“The work will begin within 15-20 days after the completion of all formalities,” he said while speaking at the daily health bulletin broadcast from the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).

Maleque said a number of buildings are being turned into isolation units in the capital.

The North City Centre will be transformed into a 1,400-bed isolation unit while 1,200-bed isolation units are to be set up at four other buildings in Uttara’s Diabari, he said.

About the confusion over Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and ventilators, the Minister said, “There are over 500 ventilators in the country while 380 are being brought.”

Ventilator takes over the body's breathing process when disease has caused the lungs to fail. The patients get time to fight off the infection and recover.

During the daily bulletin, Bangladesh Private Medical College Association President MA Muhit Khan said any of the 69 hospitals under the association would be dedicated to coronavirus patients if necessary – and if the government wants.

All these hospitals under BPMCA will provide 24-hour services, he added.

According to sources, Bangladesh has a total of 1,257 ICU units – 530 at government hospitals and 737 at private hospitals.

Altogether, 926 ICU units are in Dhaka and 341 are outside the city, the sources said adding that 100-150 ICUs are prepared for coronavirus patients.

Bangladesh reported another coronavirus death and 112 new cases in the last 24 hours until Thursday. So far, the country has recorded 330 cases.

The global death toll from coronavirus reached 88,565 as of Thursday.