RANGPUR, May 14, 2020 (BSS) – The number of coronavirus (COVID-19) patients rose to 379 as 16 more people were tested for coronavirus positive at the two COVID-19 Laboratories on Wednesday in Rangpur division.
Health officials said the new 16 patients include nine from Rangpur, three each from Kurigram and Dinajpur and one from Panchagarh districts.
Of them, 12 people were tested for coronavirus positive at the COVID-19 Laboratory at Rangpur Medical College (RpMC) in Rangpur and four at the COVID-19 Laboratory at M Abdur Rahim Medical College (MARMC) in Dinajpur.
“The 16 new patients were found after testing a total of 376 samples of suspected coronavirus patients of all eight districts in the division,” Focal Person of COVID-19 and Assistant Director (Health) for Rangpur division Dr. ZA Siddiqui said.
“The district-wise break up of the COVID-19 patients now stands at 156 in Rangpur, 14 in Panchagarh, 53 in Nilphamari, 14 in Lalmonirhat, 38 in Kurigram, 25 in Thakurgaon, 55 in Dinajpur and 24 Gaibandha districts in the division,” Dr. Siddiqui added.
Of them, 84 coronavirus patients recovered and four died in the division till Wednesday night.
“The recovered persons include 15 of Rangpur, five of Panchagarh, 13 of Nilphamari, two of Lalmonirhat, six of Kurigram, 15 of Thakurgaon, nine of Dinajpur and 19 of Gaibandha districts in Rangpur division,” Dr. Siddiqui said.
Among the four fatalities so far, two patients died in Nilphamari while one each in Dinajpur in Gaibandha districts.
“Among the total 379 patients, 109 are undergoing treatments at isolation units of different hospitals after release of 86 recovered patients while 180 remaining in isolation at homes in the division,” he said.
Meanwhile, a total of 31,413 people were put in quarantine, and of them, 24,912 released so far and 6,501 are currently remaining in home or institutional quarantine in Rangpur division.
“During the last 24 hours till 8 am today, a total of 582 people were put in quarantine at home or institutions and 426 others released in the division,” Dr. Siddiqui added.
Divisional Director (Health) Dr. Amin Ahmed Khan said preparations have been taken to use different private sector hospitals for providing treatments to the coronavirus patients in Rangpur division, if necessary.
“With the joining of 118 new physicians at the dedicated corona isolation hospitals in all eight districts on Tuesday, we have moved a step forward in the treatment of corona patients of Rangpur division,” he said.
Among the new 118 physicians, 33 of them joined in Rangpur, nine in Nilphamari, 19 in Dinajpur, 15 in Thakurgaon, eight in Gaibandha, 10 in Panchagarh, 11 in Kurigram and 13 in Lalmonirhat districts, he added.
Earlier, government hospitals and health complexes of Rangpur division had 1,005 physicians till Monday and their number rose to 1,123 now,” Dr. Khan said, adding that joining of the new doctors will help to fight the COVID-19 situation in the region.