Dipankar Roy, Khulna

The number of death and positive cases of Covid-19 has been spiraling in Khulna division, turning the situation bad to worse.

As of yesterday, only three ICU beds out of 50 were vacant at two government hospitals -- including Khulna Medical College Hospital -- and two private hospitals, according to the hospital sources.

In July, 1,513 people died in the division while 202 in the first six days of August, said sources at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

A total of 36 deaths were reported in Khulna division yesterday and 34 on Thursday, according to DGHS.

Of the deaths, 10 were in Kushtia, nine in Khulna, six in Jhenaidah, five in Jashore, four in Meherpur, one each in Bagerhat and Narail, said DGHS.

The first infection in the division was detected on March 19 last year in Chuadanga. Now, total infections since the beginning in the division has crossed 98,000, said DGHS.

Analysing the 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, the infection rate has been increasing rapidly.

The highest 666 deaths in the division have been reported in Khulna district till yesterday since the pandemic started. Kushtia has the second highest tally of 608.

Some 389 died in Jashore, 223 in Jhenidah, 172 in Chuadanga, 130 in Bagerhat, 154 in Meherpur, 85 in Satkhira, 97 in Narail and 76 in Magura, said DGHS.

As of yesterday, 19,510 people tested Covid-19 positive in Khulna division. Of them, 1,262 were hospitalised and the rest are at home isolation, sources said.

In the last 24 hours till yesterday, 818 positive cases were reported from 3,246 samples in the division, putting the infection rate at 23.44 percent.

The total number of Covid infections in Khulna district stood at 24,690, signalling that the district is going through its worst Covid-19 situation till date, said Khulna Civil Surgeon Niaz Mohammed.

People from Bagerhat, Jashore, Narail, Meherpur, Chuadanga, Pirojpur, Gopalganj and other nearby districts throng Khulna city for better treatment, he said.

Contacted, Jashim Uddin Hawlader, health director of DGHS in Khulna, said, “The overall situation is still under our control; we are trying our best to provide services.”

“Without active participation of all, it is not possible to curb Covid-19 infections,” he said.

The city has 565 Covid-dedicated beds in three government and two private hospitals. As of yesterday, 305 were receiving treatment there, said the hospitals concerned.

The civil surgeon said in July, 358 people died including 220 at Khulna Medical College Hospital.