RAJSHAHI, July 4, 2021 (BSS) – A number of 12 more people, including four women, died at Covid-19 unit of Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH) during the last 24 hours till 6 am today, taking the death toll to 415 since May 31 last.

RMCH Director Brig Gen Shamim Yazdani told newsmen that six of those were the residents of Rajshahi, three from Chapainawabganj and one each from Natore, Naogaon and Pabna districts.

Among the deaths, one tested Covid-19 positive and the rest eleven had its symptoms, he added.

Yazdani said the hospital had counted a record number of 25 fatalities caused by Covid-19 on Tuesday since the pandemic began.

Some 77 more patients were admitted to the designated ward of the hospital afresh during the time, taking its number to 485. Another 20 patients are undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

"We’ve 405 beds in the Corona dedicated wards of the hospital," he said, adding that an additional 48-beded corona ward with central oxygen supply system has been launched in the hospital recently to cope with extra pressure of the patients.

Yazdani opined over 60 percent of the new Covid-19 patients admitted to the Covid-19 unit of RMCH are from villages, clarifying that awareness among the villagers is less compared to the urban people.
Despite symptoms they hesitate to go for tests. “Only they are coming to the hospital when they feel worse. Then we have nothing to do for them, they are dying,” he added.

He said utmost attention should be given to the villages in addition to the urban area as the fatality rate among the villagers is more and the grave situation is aggravating day-by-day there.

Apart from the administration and health workers, public representatives, political activists and volunteers should come forward and work together. Otherwise, the situation may be furthermore alarming, he mentioned.

Meanwhile, demand for oxygen has gradually been rising with surging of patients in the hospital for the last couple of months.

"We’re supplying 8,000 liters of oxygen to the Covid-19 patients every day on an average in the hospital at present but the daily oxygen demand was only 2,500 liters in around two months back," Yazdani said, adding that the oxygen demand has gone up to around 3,000 liters, particularly in last one month.