Fifteen more people died of Covid-19 at  Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) in  24 hours until 8 am on Friday as infections and deaths  continue to soar in the frontier districts.

A weeklong lockdown was announced from 5pm on Friday by the local administration to stem the spread of the virus.

Of the deceased, eight were from Rajshahi, six from Chapainawabganj and one from Natore, said deputy director of the hospital Dr. Saiful Ferdous.

Read: 12 more Covid patients die at Rajshahi hospital

Of the deceased, seven were Covid-19 positive patients and others were under treatment with Covid-like symptoms, he said.

Dr. Saiful said in the last 11 days 108 patients died in the hospital’s Covid-19 unit.

Forty-three new patients were admitted to the hospital’s Coovid-19 unit during the period.

Besides, 297 patients were registered against 271 beds of the Covid-19 ward until Thursday morning, said the hospital authority.

Read: 16 more Covid patients die at Rajshahi hospital

Of the patients, 142 were from Rajshahi, 110 from Chapainawabganj, 24 from Naogaon, 15 from Natore, and three each were from Kushtia and Pabna.

Eighteen patients are undergoing treatment the ICU unit of the hospital.

Rajshahi under strict lockdown

As the coronavirus situation in Rajshahi kept worsening the district administration imposed a strict lockdown from 5pm today till June 17 midnight.

After an emergency meeting on Thursday night, deputy commissioner of the district Abdul Jalil announced the lockdown.

Read:Covid-19: Strict restrictions imposed in Rajshahi, parts of Khulna, Naogaon

During the lockdown all public transports and shops in the district will remain closed except emergency and medical services.

Besides, passenger train services between Rajshahi and other parts of the country to remain suspended from Friday.