With Covid deaths and infections surging, the Prime Minister's Office has directed the divisional and deputy commissioners to take steps to raise the number of beds and ensure oxygen supply at public hospitals treating coronavirus patients.

It has also given instructions for engaging private hospitals across the country in treating the growing number of patients infected with the virus.

The directives came at an urgent virtual meeting between the PMO officials and the divisional and deputy commissioners yesterday.

The PMO officials said the government plans to import medical oxygen from India by trains to meet the ever-increasing demand for the life-saving gas, said meeting sources.

PM's Principal Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus, who chaired the meeting, asked the local administrations to ensure that those having Covid symptoms are kept in isolation, the sources mentioned.

"The meeting discussed issues including installation of additional beds for Covid patients at public hospitals," said SM Tarikul Islam, deputy commissioner of Gazipur.

"We have been asked to constantly monitor the oxygen supply situation and contact the authorities concerned before supply shortage," he told this newspaper after attending the meeting.

The development comes at a time when most of the district hospitals are grappling with the rising number of Covid patients.

There has been a surge in both infections and deaths over the last few days though a 14-day countrywide lockdown has been in place to curb the spread of the virus.

At least 11,651 new cases were recorded in 24 hours till 8:00am yesterday, the highest in a single day since the pandemic hit the country in March last year.

The total number of people infected with the virus rose to 989,219, according to the Directorate General of Health Services.

In the 24 hours, 199 people died from the virus, taking the total number to 15,792. It was the second highest casualty in a single day. On Wednesday, the death toll was 201.

The Covid situation started deteriorating from the end of May due to the spread of the delta variant.

In the last 15 days, 122,342 cases were registered and 2,005 people died from the virus. April saw the highest number of deaths -- 2,404.

ENGAGE PRIVATE HOSPITALS

At yesterday's meeting, the deputy commissioners were asked to find ways to increase beds at public hospitals already overwhelmed by Covid patients.

"A proposal was made to use upazila health complexes and clinics as Covid-dedicated hospitals," one of the deputy commissioners told this newspaper, seeking anonymity.

"We have been asked to communicate with the authorities of private hospitals beforehand so that people can avail their services at the time of crisis."

If needed, all public and private medical college hospitals at the district level will be used for providing treatment to Covid patients, added the DC.

The meeting also discussed oxygen supply at hospitals.

"The government is planning to import oxygen from India by trains," said a meeting source.

The local administrations highlighted their activities at the field level.

They told the meeting that committees have been formed at ward and thana levels to create awareness among people about the novel coronavirus.

"We have been asked to enhance community engagement and encourage people to take vaccines," another DC told this newspaper.

Contacted, Prof Dr Maniruzzaman Bhuiyan, president of Bangladesh Private Clinic and Diagnostic Owners Association, said they are ready to assist the government.

"In this crisis, if we can be of any help to the government, we'll do that," he said.

SITUATION IN DISTRICTS

In the last few weeks, hospitals across the country have been witnessing a surge in the number of patients, which has raised fears of a medical oxygen crisis.

Jashore General Hospital is one of those.

Flooded with Covid patients, the hospital was in a mess. Some patients were receiving treatment, lying on the floor of the hospital and its premises.

The number of patients in the yellow zone (those who don't need oxygen support) at the hospital is three times the number of beds.

Arif Ahmed, resident medical officer (RMO) at the hospital, said though the number of beds has recently been increased in both red and yellow zones, they were unable to cope with the huge rush of patients.

The 100-bed Covid-dedicated Hospital in Rangpur was also overwhelmed by patients.

Meanwhile, the authorities have increased the number of beds at Rangpur Medical College Hospital (RMCH), Pabna General Hospital, and M Abdur Rahim Medical College Hospital in Dinajpur to cope with the rising number of patients.

The RMCH authorities decided to set up another 50-bed unit for Covid patients. It will include two ICU beds.

The authorities of Abdur Rahim Medical College Hospital raised the number of beds to 100 from 70. It was accommodating patients double its capacity.

Pabna General Hospital also raised the number of beds to 200 from 100 in its Covid unit.

[Our correspondents from Rangpur, Pabna and Benapole also contributed to this report.]