A Kushtia family is mourning the deaths of a father and his son from Covid-19 -- about five hours  apart on Wednesday.

Haji Abdul Aziz Sheikh, 65, died at 1 pm followed by the death of son Matiar Rahman Moti (45) at around 6 pm plunging the family in profound shock, said Dr Tapas Kumar Sarkar, the resident medical officer of Kushtia General Hospital.

“The father died at Kushtia General Hospital while the son at Dr. Tofazzal Health Center (Ratan Clinic),” he added.

According to family sources both father and son developed Covid-19 symptoms around the same time.

They were admitted to the hospitals about six days ago.

Also read: Covid nightmare in Bangladesh: Daily-death toll crosses 200

Our Kushtia correspondent reported that other members of the grieving family are currently in home isolation with Covid-19 symptoms .

Kushtia General Hospital on Wednesday morning reported 17 more Covid-related deaths in 24 hours amid an alarming surge in the number of new infections in the district.

Of the deceased, 10 were confirmed Covid patients while the remaining seven showed symptoms of the virus, said Dr MA Momen, administrator of Kushtia General Hospital.

Besides, 234 people have tested positive for corona in the district in the past 24 hours. "A total of 801 samples were tested during the period," he said.

The positivity rate currently stands at 29.21%, which was 30.30% a day before.

Also read: 17 more die of Covid at Kushtia hospital

Moreover, a total of 277 patients are currently undergoing treatment at the hospital with Covid symptoms.

Dr Tapas Kumar Sarkar, the resident medical officer of the hospital, said the hospital staff are struggling to handle the rising number of Covid patients in the district.

So far, 9,432 people have been infected with the virus in the district, while the death toll from Covid topped 275. On the other hand, a total of 6,030 people have recovered from Covid to date.