Over 60% of the new Covid-19 patients admitted to RMCH’s Covid unit are from villages, says the hospital director

A total of 22 more people died at Covid unit of Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH) in the last 24 hours until 8am Monday, taking the death toll to 374 in the current month.

Of the deceased – 12 men and 10 women – 14 hailed from Rajshahi, five from Naogaon and one each from Chapainawabganj and Natore, said RMCH Director Brig Gen Shamim Yazdani

Among the deaths, five tested Covid positive and the rest seven were suffering from its symptoms, he added.

Nine of them were aged above 60, four were aged between 51 and 60, four between 41 and 50, two between 31 and 40 and three between 21 and 30.

Meanwhile, 66 more patients, including 47 from Rajshahi, seven from Chapainawabganj, four from Natore, four from Naogaon, two from Jaipurhat, and one each from Pabna and Kushtia districts, were admitted to the designated ward of the hospital during the time, taking the number of people undergoing treatment to 462.

"We have 405 beds in the Covid dedicated ward of the hospital," Yazdani added.

He said the hospital launched an additional 48-bed corona ward recently to cope with the extra pressure.

In the last 24 hours, 46 patients were released from the hospital.

Brig Gen Yazdani opined that over 60% of the new Covid-19 patients admitted to RMCH are from the villages, clarifying that awareness among the villagers is less compared to the urban people.

Despite symptoms, these people hesitate to go for tests, he said. “They are only coming to the hospital when their condition is worse. At that point, we cannot do anything for them and they die.”

He said utmost attention should be given to the villages in addition to the urban area as the fatality rate among the villagers is more and the grave situation is aggravating day-by-day there.

Apart from the administration and health workers, he said, public representatives, political activists and volunteers should come forward and work together to raise awareness among the people in rural areas. Otherwise, the situation will simply worsen.