Bangladesh confirms 41 new coronavirus cases as death toll jumps to 17

Bangladesh has confirmed 41 new cases of the coronavirus, taking the tally of positive tests to 164.

The death toll from the virus also rose to 17 after five more patients died in the last 24 hours, IEDCR Director Meerjady Sabrina Flora said in an online media briefing.

This is the highest number of cases reported in a day since the country reported its first coronavirus cases a month ago.

The total number of patients discharged after recovery is 33.

ISOLATION, ICU BEDS READY

Health authorities have prepared as many as 7,693 and 112 beds in isolation and intensive care units respectively, for the treatment of coronavirus patients in hospitals across the country, according to Abul Kalam Azad, director general of Directorate General Health Service.

Hospitals in Dhaka have about 1,505 beds in isolation units and 79 beds in ICUs available, Azad said in an online media briefing on Tuesday.

Another 697 isolation beds are available in hospitals across the different districts of Dhaka division, he said.

Outside Dhaka, isolation units in Chattogram have 848 beds, Mymensingh 1,030, Barishal 545, Sylhet 346, Rajshahi 1,200, Khulna 690 and Rangpur 787 beds.

In terms of ICU beds, Mymensingh has 26, Sylhet has 2 while Khulna has 5, he said.

“We are trying to increase the number of isolation and ICU beds across the country.”

In Dhaka, Bangladesh-Kuwait Friendship Government Hospital in Uttara, Kurmitola General Hospital, Sheikh Russel Gastro Liver Institute & Hospital in Mohakhali, Fulbaria Railway Hospital and Mohanagar General Hospital are dedicated to treating coronavirus patients.  

Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases in Chattogram is also providing treatment to COVID-19 patients.

Testing for the infection is being conducted by the IEDCR, BSMMU, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Kurmitola General Hospital, IPH, ICDDRB, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Dhaka Shishu Hospital, the National Institute of Laboratory Medicine and the Institute for Developing Science and Health Initiatives in Dhaka.

BITAD in Chattogram, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, Rangpur Medical College Hospital, Cox’s Bazar Medical College Hospital and Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital have also started testing for the infection, said the DGHS.

Testing labs will be set up in 28 areas across the country, said Azad.