Govt quick responses as virus spreads badly

 

As Corona virus death casualties and infections soaring, the PMO directed the divisional and deputy commissioners to take immediate actions to increase the number of beds and confirm oxygen supply at public hospitals treating coronavirus patients.

Instructions as well given for including private hospitals around the country to treating the growing number of patients infected with the virus

The directives forwarded at an urgent virtual meeting between the PMO officials and the divisional and deputy commissioners yesterday.

 Officials from the PMO insists the government plans to import medical oxygen from India as soon as possible to meet the rapid-increasing demand for the life-saving gas, said meeting sources.

PM's Principal Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus, chairing the meeting, asked the local administrations to ensure that those having Covid symptoms are kept in isolation, the sources admited.

 

"The meeting discussed issues including installation of additional beds for patients at public hospitals," said SM Tarikul Islam, deputy commissioner of Gazipur.

"We have already been directed to constantly monitor the oxygen supply situation and contact the concerned authorities before supply shortage," he told this newspaper after attending the meeting.

There has been a sharp increase in both infections and deaths over the last two weeks though a 14-day countrywide lockdown has been imposed to tacle the spread of the virus.

At least 11,651 new cases were recorded in last 24 hours, the highest in a single day since the pandemic wrapped the country early last year.

The total number of people infected with the virus rose to 989,219, according to the DGHS.

199 people died In the last 24 hours from the virus, taking the total number to 15,792. It was the second highest casualty in a single day. The Total death was 201 On Wednesday la

The spreaing situation started plunging from the late May due to the spread of the delta variant. Over the last two weeks, 122,342 cases were registered and 2,005 people died from the covid-19 infection. April confirms the highest number of deaths 2,404.

Include Private Hospital

At meeting held yesterday, the deputy commissioners were asked to find ways to increase beds at public hospitals already overwhelmed by virus patients.

"A proposal was made to use upazila health complexes and clinics as Covid-dedicated hospitals," one of the deputy commissioners told this newspaper, seeking anonymity.

"We were asked to communicate with the authorities of private hospitals earlier so that people can get necessary services at the crisis."

All public and private medical college hospitals at the district level have to be used for providing treatment to virus patients, insisted the DC.

The meeting also discussed about immediate oxygen supplies to hospitals.

"The government is planning to import oxygen from India by trains,"

The local administrations landed their activities at the field level.

They told the meeting that committees were formed at ward and thana levels to create awareness among people about the virus.

"We have already been asked to enhance community engagement and encourage people to take vaccines," another DC told this newspaper.

"In this crisis, if we can be of any help to the government, we'll do that," he said.

 

Situation in Remote Areas

In the last few weeks, hospitals across the country have been witnessing a swell in the number of patients, which raised fears of a medical oxygen crisis.

Jashore, Khulna, and satkhira General Hospitals are among those.

Pouring with Covid patients, the hospital became an ugly mess. Some patients were taking services, lying on the floor of the hospital and its premises.

The number of patients with having no oxygen support in the hospitals is three fold more the number of beds.

The 100-bed Covid-dedicated Hospital in Khulna was also over flooded by virus patients.

At the same time, the authorities added more  beds in all Medical College Hospitals.

The authorities of Abdur Rahim Medical College Hospital bring up the number of beds to 100 from 70. It was accommodating patients more than  its capacity.

Pabna General Hospital also put the number of beds to 200 up from from its earlier capacity of100.