RANGPUR, April 20, 2021 (BSS) – The number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases hastily crossed the 17,400-mark in Rangpur division where the infection rate continues rising almost daily amid declining recovery rate during the last more than one month.
Health officials said the number of Covid-19 cases quickly rose to 17,430 as 63 more patients were reported after testing 383 samples at the infection rate of 16.45 percent on Monday in the division.
“After December 26, the daily infection rate crossed the 10 percent mark on March 24 last for the first time and continues rising in the division,” Focal Person of COVID-19 and Assistant Director (Health) for Rangpur division Dr. ZA Siddiqui told BSS.
The district-wise break-up of total 17,430 patients now stands at 4,478 in Rangpur, 822 in Panchagarh, 1,494 in Nilphamari, 1,027 in Lalmonirhat, 1,107 in Kurigram, 1,617 in Thakurgaon, 5,231 in Dinajpur and 1,654 in Gaibandha.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, a total of 1,21,755 collected samples were tested till Monday, and of them, 17,430 were found Covid-19 positive with an average infection rate of 14.32 percent.
At the same time, the total number of healed patients reached 16,080 with recovery of 28 more patients on Monday at the average recovery rate of 92.25 percent.
Among the 16,080 recovered patients, 4,104 of Rangpur, 783 of Panchagarh, 1,415 of Nilphamari, 969 of Lalmonirhat, 1,012 of Kurigram, 1,499 of Thakurgaon, 4,807 of Dinajpur and 1,491 of Gaibandha districts.
Talking to BSS, Divisional Director (Health) Dr. Md. Ahad Ali said the number of fatalities rose to 331 while two more deaths reported from Lalmonirhat and Thakurgaon in the division on Monday.
The district-wise break-up of the total fatalities now stands at 77 in Rangpur, 116 in Dinajpur, 35 in Thakurgaon, 33 in Nilphamari, 17 in Kurigram, 20 in Panchagarh, 21 in Gaibandha and 12 in Lalmonirhat.
“The average casualty rate currently stands at 1.90 percent in the division,” he said.
Among the total 17,430 infected patients, 94 are undergoing treatments at isolation units, including 20 critical patients at ICU beds, after recovery of 16,080 patients and 331 deaths while 965 remaining in home isolation across the division.
Meanwhile, the total number of citizens who got the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine rose to 5,88,990, including 3,53,468 male and 2,35,522 female, with inoculation of more 1,766 people with the first dose on Monday in the division.
“At the same time, the number of the second dose recipient citizens rose to 1,42,325, including 96,085 male and 46,243 female, with vaccination of 12,730 more people with the second dose on Monday in the division,” Dr Ali added.
Talking to BSS, Chief of Divisional Coronavirus Service and Prevention Task Force and Principal of Rangpur Medical College Professor Dr. AKM Nurunnobi Lyzu urged people to abide by the health directives to remain safe and contain the rising infection rate.