Barishal SBMCH records 56.52pc positivity rate

The rising rate of Covid-19 infections in Barishal is alarming healthcare professionals and general citizens.

According an RT-PCR lab report submitted to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH) in Barishal, 56.52 percent of samples tested last Tuesday were positive for Covid-19. This is the testing facility with the highest capacity in the division.

This is a record rate of positive Covid-19 tests. According to the report submitted by the lab to SBMCH, they tested 186 samples on April 20, of which 106 were positive for coronavirus. Mentionable, 186 is the highest capacity of the lab.

This infection rate of 56.52 percent is the highest recorded by this PCR lab since it began operations on May 8 last year, confirmed the lab's in-charge, Dr Akbar Hossain.

On Monday (April 19), 51 out of 187 samples were tested positive, putting the percentage at 27.27. On Sunday (April 18), 78 out of 185 samples were tested positive, putting the rate of infection at 42.16 percent, confirmed lab sources.

In the 24 hours until 8am yesterday, five people died in the Covid-19 ward of SBMCH, although only one of them were found infected with coronavirus. At the moment, 141 patents are admitted at the ward, of whom 51 have been tested positive for the virus. The rest have been admitted due to symptoms and they are also being tested.

Dr Maniruzzaman Shahin, in-charge of the Covid-19 ward and assistant director of SBMCH, speculated that there are many patients of Covid-19 but not all of them are being able to get tested.

Dr Basudeb Kumar Das, director of divisional health office, said until Tuesday, a total of 13,632 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in the division. Of them, 244 have died.