RANGPUR, July 24, 2020 (BSS) – The number of coronavirus (COVID-19) positive cases crossed the 5,300 mark today in Rangpur division where a limited scale community transmission of the lethal virus continues in recent weeks.
Health officials said the total number of infected patients climbed to 5,338 as 107 new people were reported positive after testing 376 collected samples at two COVID-19 Laboratories in Rangpur and Dinajpur on Thursday in the division.
The district-wise break up of the patients stands at 1,566 in Rangpur, 246 in Panchagarh, 605 in Nilphamari, 305 in Lalmonirhat, 389 in Kurigram, 306 in Thakurgaon, 1,337 in Dinajpur and 584 Gaibandha of the division.
Talking to BSS, Focal Person of COVID-19 and Assistant Director (Health) for Rangpur division Dr. ZA Siddiqui said 365 people were put in quarantine at home or institutions and 378 others released in the division in the last 24 hours till 8 am today.
Since the begging of COVID-19 outbreak, a total of 57,859 people of the division were put in home or institutional quarantines, and of them, 51,854 released and 6,005 are currently remaining in quarantines.
“Wee have so far tested a total of 37,089 collected samples of Rangpur division till Thursday night, and of them, 5,338 were found positive with an infection rate of around 14.39 percent,” Dr. Siddiqui said.
Meanwhile, the number of recovered patients continues to rise despite increase in the number of daily infections in the division in recent weeks.
“The total number of recovered patients rose to 3,508 today with the healing of 71 more COVID-19 patients on Thursday at the average recovery rate of 65.71 percent in the division,” he said.
The 3,508 recovered COVID-19 patients include 1,118 of Rangpur, 148 of Panchagarh, 486 of Nilphamari, 197 of Lalmonirhat, 204 of Kurigram, 221 of Thakurgaon, 808 of Dinajpur and 326 of Gaibandha districts in the division.
“With four more deaths reported on Thursday, including one each from Rangpur and Thakurgaon and two from Dinajpur, the total number of fatalities rose to 96 today with the casualty rate of 1.80 percent in the division,” Dr. Siddiqui added.
The 96 deceased people include 29 each of Rangpur and Dinajpur, 12 of Gaibandha, nine of Nilphamari, five each of Kurigram and Thakurgaon, four of Panchagarh and three of Lalmonirhat districts of the division.
Divisional Director (Health) Dr. Amin Ahmed Khan said 1,06,324 pieces of personal protection equipment were distributed till Thursday after receiving a total of 1,74,313 pieces with 67,989 pieces of the same are remaining in stock in the division.
“The government hospitals and health services providing facilities have currently 1,123 physicians, 1,757 nurses and 5,907 other staff to provide treatments to the infected patients and face the situation in the division,” he added.
Divisional Commissioner KM Tariqul Islam said all authorities concerned are working in a coordinated manner to face the COVID-19 situation in all eight districts of the division.
“Besides, hectic efforts are on to inspire the common people in abiding by the health directives of the government, especially in the sacrificial animal markets, to prevent community transmission of COVID-19 in the division,” Islam said.