Covid-19 tests: 4 more private hospitals seek govt permission

More private healthcare institutions are being added to the centres that carry out Covid-19 tests, after the government began granting them permission in a bid to increase testing facilities throughout the country. 

Another four private hospitals, including two in Dhaka city, applied on Thursday to perform coronavirus tests. These include Ibn Sina Medical College Hospital and Labaid Specialised Hospital, both of which are in Dhaka.

Meanwhile, the deadly Covid-19 pandemic continues to increase fatalities in Bangladesh. The country confirmed five more deaths from the novel coronavirus and 564 new cases of infection after testing 4,965 samples in the 24-hour period from Wednesday 12 noon to Thursday 12 noon.

So far, 168 people have succumbed to this deadly virus, and the total number of infections stands at 7,667. Ten patients recovered during that period, increasing the number of people who recovered to 160.

"Among the recent deaths, three are male and two are female. Two of them were aged above 60 and three above 40," the additional director general of the Health Directorate, Dr Nasima Sultana, said during a routine online bulletin for Covid-19 updates.

Around 5,626 samples were also collected during that 24-hour period. Sample collection has increased by 19.54 percent compared to that in the previous day, but PCR testing has decreased by 0.06 percent. 

"We are currently conducting coronavirus tests at 29 labs across the country," said Dr Nasima, adding that the recent data analysis was derived from the information provided by those labs.

Moreover, 2,181 people [without Covid-19 symptoms] have been newly quarantined, while 138 individuals [with Covid-19 symptoms] have been isolated.

The government has distributed 1,403,398 PPE (personal protective equipment) and another 332,439 are currently in stock. 

Around 956 patients, including 95 new ones, are still admitted in hospitals dedicated for Covid-19 patients throughout Dhaka.

The government has around one lakh PCR testing kits in stock, and is in the process of procuring more.

Available treatment facilities for Covid-19 cases have not increase since Wednesday. There are currently 9,738 isolation beds, 341 ICU beds and 102 dialysis units in the country.

On Wednesday, the Directorate General of Health Services approved three private hospitals — Evercare Hospital, formerly known as Apollo Hospitals, Square Hospitals and United Hospital — to perform Covid-19 tests.

A laboratory in Narayanganj has also been given permission to carry out coronavirus tests.