Urgent lockdown needed in Rajshahi: RMCH director

Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) Director Brigadier General Shamim Yazdani has recommended imposing a special lockdown in Rajshahi with immediate effect to curb the growing rate of Covid-19 infection in the district.

He said the hospital had run out of space for Covid-19 patients.

Shamim Yazdani said, "Most of the Covid-19 patients have recovered after the treatment at the hospital as each of them were provided with a bed and high flow nasal cannula with central oxygen facilities by far. However, coronavirus infection in the district is on the rise."

"Therefore, with the increasing number of patients, the hospital won't be able to provide the same amount of facility if more patients come in," he added.

Apart from Rajshahi, patients from Chapainawabganj, Natore, Naogaon, Joypurhat, Pabna, and Kushtia districts also come to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for coronavirus treatment.

The hospital sources said, some 191 people, including 94 from Chapainawabganj, are undergoing treatment in the coronavirus-ward and ICU of the hospital till Saturday. In the last five days, 39 people have died in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital due to Covid-19 or with its symptoms.

Meanwhile, thirteen people have been identified with the Indian Covid variants across the country, out of which seven are hailed from Chapainawabganj district.

According to Shamim Yazdani, the Indian variant has started community transmission in Rajshahi given the increasing trend of Covid-19 patients in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj.

He further said, "Only after genome sequencing tests it can be determined which areas have been affected by the variant and who are being most infected by it."