Seventeen more people have been diagnosed with coronavirus in Thakurgaon district in the past 24 hours till Sunday morning, showing a sharp rise in the number of Covid-19 cases.

Civil Surgeon Dr Mahfuzar Rahman said 17 people were found infected with the virus as per reports came from M Abdur Rahim Medical College, Dinajpur CDC, Sadar Hospital and upazila hospitals.

Read:Thakurgaon seals border areas to contain Covid

So far, 1,742 people have been found infected with the virus in the district. Of them, 1,575 people have recovered.

The death toll from the virus reached 38 in the district.

Deputy Commissioner of Thakurgaon Dr KM Kamruzzaman Selim said, “The district has been experiencing a rise in Covid-19 cases for the last several days and most of the Covid-19 cases have been reported from Baliadangi upazila, a frontier area.”

Read:7 cases of Indian Covid variant detected in Nawabganj: Doctor

According to sources at the Civil Surgeon office, three people were found infected with Covid-19 on May 29, seven on May 30, eight on May 31, 17 on June 2, 18 on June 3, two on June 4 and 17 on June 5.

Referring to the Indian variant of coronavirus, Dr Mahfuzar, said, “No Indian returnee has been found in the district so far.”

Talking about the health system in the district, the Civil Surgeon said a 50-bed corona unit has already been opened at Sadar Hospital while isolation wards at upazila health complexes have been prepared for treating Covid patients.

Read:Covid in Jashore: Movement of people restricted in 2 wards

Earlier, on Thursday, the border areas of Thakurgaon were sealed off in the wake of a sudden spike in Covid-19 cases in the district, officials said.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel have been asked to step up vigil along the border with India to prevent the spread of the Indian Covid-19 variant, said Lt Col Md Maksud, the commanding officer of BGB-50 Thakurgaon Battalion.