Khulna division goes thru’ its worst Covid-19 surge

The number of infections and deaths in Khulna division this month has broken all previous records.  

In the first 19 days of this month, about 26,000 people were diagnosed with Covid-19 in 10 districts. During this time, 877 people died from the disease; 44.12 percent of deaths occurred in this small period, and total deaths reached 1,947 in the division.

The first infection in the division was detected on March 19 last year in Chuadanga district. Now, total infections since the beginning in that very division crossed 81,000.

Analysing health department's data, it was found that the Covid-19 situation was relatively stable from the beginning of this year till March. However, since Eid-ul-Fitr, infections have been increasing rapidly.

In June, the records kept being broken with each passing day. Doctors believe the number of infections and deaths this month indicates a dire situation. According to the department, the average infection rate from since the outbreak till now is about 23 percent, but the rate in the last 19 days was about 38 percent.

The highest number of total deaths, 518, was reported in Khulna district till yesterday. Kushtia has the second highest death toll at 423. Besides, 280 people died in Jashore, 166 in Jhenidah, 142 in Chuadanga, 111 in Bagerhat, 101 in Meherpur, 82 in Satkhira, 77 in Narail and 47 in Magura.

At present, there are 26,234 active Covid-19 patients in Khulna division as of yesterday. Of them, 1,158 are receiving treatment at different hospitals in 10 districts. The rest are being treated at home in isolation.

In the last 24 hours till yesterday, 1,165 infections were identified from 4,632 samples in the division, an infection rate of 25.15 percent. A total of 52 people died.

The number of total infections in Khulna district crossed 21,438 yesterday. The district is going through its worst Covid-19 phase till date, sail Khulna Civil Surgeon Niaz Mohammed.

"Many patients from Satkhira are coming to Khulna for treatment, while the number of patients from Bagerhat, Jashore, Narail, Meherpur, Chuadanga, Pirojpur, Gopalganj and other districts is also rising," he added.

The three government hospitals -- including Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH), and Sadar Hospital -- in Khulna district are struggling to treat the increasing surge of patients due to insufficient beds, doctors and nurses.

Health services at KMCH were in disarray, as the rush of patients from nearby districts rose significantly, said Suhash Ranjan Haldar, resident medical officer of KMCH and key member of the Covid-19 unit there.

"In the last two months, the Covid-19 unit was full of patients, and we have been trying our best to provide treatment," he said.

On average, 180 to 200 patients are being admitted there per day, he added.

At least 163 patients were receiving treatment at the KMCH's 130-bed Covid-19 unit yesterday. There are only 14 doctors and 67 nurses to look after them.

Besides, the hospital is facing a shortage of high-flow oxygen support, alleged some patients' relatives, seeking anonymity, even though the new 10 kilolitre-per-second central plant began operation from Sunday.

In 24 hours till 8am yesterday, the Covid-19 positivity rate was 40 percent in Khulna district.

Contacted, Jashim Uddin Hawlader, health director of Directorate General of Health Services in Khulna, said, "The overall situation is still under our control, as we are trying our best to give services to patients."

"Without active participation of all, it will not be possible to curb Covid-19 infections," he said.

Even though there are 255 Covid dedicated beds in the city in total, 316 patients were taking treatment at various hospitals as of yesterday.

In the first 19 days of this month, at least 70 people died with Covid-19-like symptoms in Khulna district, while the unofficial figure was 48, shows data from Khulna civil surgeon's office.

In the previous month, the number of deaths from Covid-19-like symptoms was 31, while the official toll was 27.