‘No alternative to increasing hospital capacity’

Health Minister Zahid Maleque has said that there is no alternative to increasing the capacities of hospitals to tackle the surge in Covid-19 cases.

"There's no alternative to increasing the number of hospital beds as Covid cases are increasing day by day. That's why the government is increasing the number of beds at all covid-dedicated hospitals," he said while inaugurating 10 ICU beds at Dhaka Medical College Hospital at an online event.

He said the number of covid-designated hospitals are also being increased, reports UNB.

Minister Maleque said that a market of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has been turned into a Covid-dedicated hospital with 1,250-bed capacity.

"There are 50 ICU beds and 200 SDO beds," he said. "It also has 1,000 isolation beds."

Maleque said the number of covid beds is being increased at government hospitals in the capital.

In this regard, the minister said that 10 more ICU beds have been added to Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Thursday.

Bangladesh recorded its highest-ever daily coronavirus cases (6,469) on Thursday. The country registered more than 5,000 cases for the fourth straight day. Official data indicated that there is inadequate ICU and general beds at hospitals treating covid patients.

Minister Maleque said that hospitals would run out of space if the number of infections keep rising.

He urged everyone to put in concerted efforts to flatten the curve.

"The situation will become dire if we don't follow health rules and the 18 directives issued by the Prime Minister, " he said.