53 healthcare providers in Rajshahi infected with coronavirus

Fifty-three healthcare providers in Rajshahi have been infected with the coronavirus till now.

Of them, 10 are doctors, 19 are nurses, two are medical technologists and 22 are health workers. They worked at the Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH), the Rajshahi City Corporation and various other health complexes at the upazila level.

Dr Saiful Ferdous, deputy director of the RMCH, said six intern doctors, 18 nurses and four health workers have tested positive for Covid-19 at the hospital. Most of them are being treated at the hospital's dedicated coronavirus cabins and wards, while some are taking treatment at home.

Besides, one physician, two technologists and two fourth-class workers of Rajshahi Medical College PCR Lab also got infected with the virus, said Dr Sabera Gulnahar, lab in-charge and professor at the Virology Department.

"We are now depending on technologists sent from Dhaka as two of our prime technologists have contracted the virus," she added.

One health worker and nine staff of the Health Division under the Rajshahi City Corporation have contracted the virus, said the division's head Dr FMA Anjuman.

Rajshahi Civil Surgeon Dr Enamul Haq said two doctors, one nurse and seven health workers in nine upazilas of the district have also been infected with the virus.

According to the Civil Surgeon's Office, 513 people contracted the virus in Rajshahi as of Sunday.

Of them, 355 are from Rajshahi city, 17 from Bagha, 19 from Charghat, 12 from Puthia, seven from Durgapur, 20 from Bagmara, 23 from Mohonpur, 24 from Tanore, 33 from Paba, and three from Godagari.

Besides, seven people died in the district from the virus till Saturday. Of them, three are from Rajshahi city, and one each from Bagha, Charghat, Mohonpur and Paba. Some 68 people have recovered from the virus in the district till now.

The first case of coronavirus in Rajshahi was detected on April 12.