In order to cope with the pressure of the growing number of Covid-19 patients, the Health Ministry has approved two new hospitals in Chittagong to launch separate units for Covid-19 treatment.
The two new facilities are at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) and Holy Crescent Hospital.
Currently, Chittagong General Hospital is equipped with 10 ICU beds and 100 isolation beds for Covid-19 patients.
Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (BITID) has 30 isolation beds for Covid-19 patients. But it has no ICU facilities for Covid-19 patients.
Dr Ashim Kumar Nath, superintendent of Chittagong General Hospital told Dhaka Tribune that a total of 112 Covid-19 patients were undergoing treatment at the isolation units of the hospital on Sunday.
Besides, seven Covid-19 patients were undergoing treatment in the ICU of the hospital on Sunday.
Dr Hasan Shahriar Kabir, director (Chittagong division), Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said the Holy Crescent Hospital would start its operation from May 20, with 20 ICU beds and 10 ventilators.
Dr Aftabul Islam, deputy director of the CMCH said they would launch a separate unit for Covid-19 patients at the hospital soon.
“We have already sent a requisition to the DGHS for necessary manpower and medical equipment for launching 100 beds, including 10 ICU beds for Covid-19 treatment,” Aftabul added.
As of Friday, Chittagong recorded a total of 641 confirmed cases of Covid-19. Of them, 32 died of the viral disease.
The government has already posted 73 doctors for Covid-19 patients in Chittagong.
As of Sunday, Bangladesh recorded a total of 328 deaths With the latest figure, the number of total confirmed cases jumped to 22,268.
Globally, total confirmed cases stood at 4,736,104 with 313,498 deaths in 215 countries/territories including Bangladesh.