Ctg sees highest cases, infection rate, deaths

Yesterday saw the highest number of positive Covid-19 cases and deaths detected in a day since the start of the pandemic in Chattogram, indicating that the situation has taken a terrible turn. Despite this, people largely are yet to take the pandemic seriously, as most were not seen following health rules outside. 

Out of 3,389 samples, 1,310 cases were detected in Chattogram district in 24 hours till 11:30pm on Monday. The positivity rate was around 39 percent, also a new record. Eighteen patients died from Covid-19 during the period.

With the number of patients increasing day by day, almost all Covid-19 dedicated beds in hospitals are occupied. In many hospitals, patients outnumbered the beds.

A total of 310 patients were receiving treatment at the 300-bed Covid-19 ward of Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) yesterday, while 170 patients were being treated at the 150-bed Covid-19 ward of Chattogram General Hospital (CGH).

In Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (BITID), 43 patients were admitted at the 50-bed Covid-19 ward yesterday, said sources.

To cope with the increasing number of patients, CGH set up a second unit of its Covid-19 ward, with 60 beds, at Holy Crescent Hospital.

The same situation prevailed in private hospitals.

"Most beds dedicated for Covid-19 patients have already been occupied, while many facilities had to add more beds to treat additional patients," said Dr Liakat Ali, general secretary of Private Hospital Owners' Association, Chattogram. "Patients outnumbered the beds in almost all hospitals. The situation is becoming horrible."

All ICU beds in both government and private hospitals are occupied, and so, people are having to wait for ICU patients to either get discharged or die, freeing up the beds.

The beds are becoming vacant mostly because of deaths.

None of the 10 beds in CMCH's ICU is vacant, and there is a long list of patients who need ICU support. They have to wait until a bed is vacant, said Prof Sujat Paul, head of medicine and Covid-19 ward at CMCH.

Amid the dire situation, many people in Chattogram are not bothering to follow health rules. During visits to different city areas in the last two days, majority of people were seen without facemasks, while many had their masks on the chin until confronted by law enforcers.

The district administration conducted mobile courts, while law enforcers put check-posts to ensure instructions of the lockdown are being followed, but this could not raise awareness among people. Residents were seen going outside, showing different reasons.

The traffic department of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) filed 219 cases and took action against 250 vehicles in the port city for violating the lockdown on Monday, said Arafatul Islam, additional deputy commissioner of CMP.

Mobile courts of Chattogram District Administration filed 218 cases and realised Tk 1.27 lakh as fine from people violating the lockdown on Monday, said sources.

Public health experts said awareness among people is necessary to curb the infection rate in the district.

Prof Dr Shakeel Ahmed, head of BITID laboratory, said awareness campaigns should spread from the city to rural areas to curb the infection rate. Public representatives, and social, cultural, political and voluntary organisations should come forward in this regard.