Pabna Mental Hospital: A dozen patients test positive for Covid-19

At least a dozen mental health patients in Pabna Mental Hospital tested positive for Covid-19 last week.

As the hospital does not have the facilities for Covid-19 treatment, the patients had to be sent home for isolation under their families' care.

The authorities have introduced a new rule requiring Covid-19 tests before admitting new patients.

"At the first week of this month, we found Covid-19 symptoms among some patients. Then, we collected the samples of 63. Twelve of them were positive," said Dr Masud Rana.

"There are over 400 patients in this hospital. The Covid-19 patients may spread the virus among other patients. That is why we have sent them back to their homes."

He added, "Our hospital has an isolation unit designated for new patients. If any new patient comes, we keep them in the isolation unit for 14 days and then we shift them to the main unit. But we don't have any facility to provide treatment to Covid-19 patients. So, we don't have an alternative to sending them back home."

Meanwhile, the hospital is providing guidelines for the families of the affected to take care of the patients while maintaining health safety rules.

Apart from the patients, at least three doctors and seven nurses of the hospital tested positive for Covid-19 and they all are in home isolation.