The border areas of Thakurgaon have been sealed off in the wake of a sudden spike in Covid-19 cases in the district, officials said on Thursday. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel have been asked to step up vigil along the border with neighbouring India to prevent the spread of the Indian Covid-19 variant in this country, according to Lt Colonel Md Maksud, the commanding officer of BGB-50 Thakurgaon Battalion. Read: Bangladesh’s frontier districts brace for Covid ‘catastrophe’: Experts Deputy Commissioner KM Kamruzzaman said the bordering areas have been sealed off so as to prevent the transmission of the Indian variant of Covid-19. According to sources, as many as 36 people in the district tested positive for Covid-19 between May 28 and June 2. Thakurgaon Civil Surgeon Dr Mahfuzar Rahman Sarkar said that 1,705 people have tested positive for Covid-19 to date, and of them, 1,570 people have recovered. Read: Covid protocols go for a toss at Sonahat Land Port Some 36 people have died so far from the virus in the district. Already a 50-bed corona unit has been opened at Sadar Hospital in the district and an isolation ward at upazila health complex has been prepared for treating Covid-19 patients, he said. Meanwhile, sources said a liquid oxygen plant set up at Sadar Hospital five months ago is yet to be made operational due to a shortage of manpower.  However, health authorities said the oxygen plant will start functioning from this month only. Read:Covid-19: Strict restrictions imposed in Rajshahi, parts of Khulna, Naogaon "A ventilator is also lying unused at Sadar Hospital due to a lack of skilled manpower," said Dr Nadirul Aziz Chapal, a supervisor at the hospital. "If the Indian Covid variant is detected here, it would be really tough for us to tackle the situation," he said.  

Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital  will be turned into a 2000-bed one from 900-bed and a medical oxygen plant will be set up at the hospital to handle the growing number Covid-19 patients in the district. The oxygen plant will have the capacity to supply 10,000 liters of oxygen. The decisions were taken on Sunday at a virtual meeting of the management committee of  the hospital with Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen in chair. Read: Coronavirus testing equipment reached Sylhet hospital It was decided that the 2nd unit of the hospital will be set up at the premises of the Infectious Diseases Hospital adjacent to Shahi Eidgah in Sylhet. It was informed at the meeting that the Public Works Department will visit the site and take necessary steps for the construction of the hospital. Sylhet city mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury,  Selina Momen, wife of the Foreign Minister and a member of the management committee of the medical college hospital, Sylhet divisional commissioner, police commissioner, director of MAG Osmani Medical College and Hospital , among others, joined the meeting.

All necessary initiatives have been taken to install a dedicated medical oxygen generation plant at Chandpur General Hospital to meet the increasing demand for life-saving gas amid Covid-19 surge across the district. The plant, funded by UNICEF, will have the capacity to supply 20 lakh millilitre of oxygen. The project will be implemented by Spectra International, under the direct supervision of the Health Ministry. Read Indian capital gasps for oxygen - United News of Bangladesh Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni is also providing her assistance and guidance implementing the project, hospital Supervisor Dr Md Habib Ul Karim told UNB. "At present, we have to bring oxygen cylinders from Cumilla as per the demand. Access time and money is spent in the process. This plant will meet the current demand in the district as well as will keep a reserve for 5/6 months,” said the hospital super. UNICEF in association with Spectra International will install oxygen plants in 25 districts across the country, he added. Read Liquid oxygen import from India suspended at Benapole