ICCB hospital for Covid-19 patients opens

Health Minister Zahid Maleque yesterday inaugurated a 2,000-bed hospital at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in the capital for treating Covid-19 patients.

"It's the second-largest hospital in the world dedicated to treating coronavirus patients," he said.

While opening the hosptial, the minister also said the recruitment process of 5,000 new medical technologists was underway to strengthen the medical sector.

The hospital has 2,013 isolation beds. Among them, oxygen cylinders have been attached to 71 beds. It also has at least 400 more portable oxygen cylinders.

On April 9, the minister made public the decision of setting up the hosptial.

Visiting the hospital on April 29, he said more than 20,000 coronavirus isolation beds were ready across the country.

Plasma therapy for coronavirus treatment is also underway. Remdesivir medicine is also being produced in the country. The medicine is being stocked by the government, the minister added.

He said a letter was sent to all government and private hospitals for compulsory treatment of general patients.

The minister also requested the people not to hide any information if there were any Covid-19 symptoms.

About the government decision to ease the shutdown, the minister said when there was an emergency, the government enforced the shutdown and when it was needed to relax it. The government was making decisions considering all sides.

If the people follow health rules properly, there will be relief from economic crisis as well as coronavirus, he added.

The minister also thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her timely decisions.

SOURCE : The Daily Star