Amid a fresh wave of Covid-19 infections across the country, all upazila-level health complexes in Bagerhat district have run out of rapid antigen test kits, leaving local hospitals unable to conduct coronavirus tests.

As a result, patients showing symptoms such as fever, cough and body aches are being referred to Bagerhat District Hospital or Khulna Medical College Hospital for testing, sources said.

Despite repeated requests sent to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) for testing kits, none had arrived at the upazila health complexes as of Thursday, the sources added. 

Meanwhile, the 250-bed Bagerhat General Hospital has received only 150 antigen rapid test kits, which doctors say are insufficient given the current demand.

Health experts are urging people to strictly follow health safety guidelines to curb the spread of the virus.

The shortage of testing kits comes at a time when public concern is mounting over a new wave of Covid-19 infections and deaths being reported from various parts of the country, with locals expressing anxiety over the inability to access testing services.

During a visit to Bagerhat General Hospital on Thursday afternoon, this correspondent found crowded corridors, packed outpatient areas, and a lack of social distancing.

People of all ages—men and women—were seen jostling for space inside the hospital premises, with little to no adherence to Covid safety protocols.

Several patients reported experiencing persistent fever, headache, cough, and body pain, prompting them to seek medical attention.

Doctors provided prescriptions based on symptoms, but testing was not possible in the absence of kits.

Patients said they had approached their local health complexes for Covid-19 tests after developing symptoms but were turned away due to the unavailability of test kits. In most cases, doctors resorted to symptom-based treatment.

Dr Moni Shankar Paik, Resident Medical Officer (RMO) of Kachua Upazila Health Complex, told UNB that an average of 40 to 50 fever patients visit the complex daily.

"But we are unable to conduct Covid tests due to a lack of kits. We are referring suspected cases to Bagerhat District Hospital," he said.

The physician also said his hospital requested 1,000 antigen rapid test kits from the DGHS, but none had been received as of Thursday.

Dr Md Shaheen, Health and Family Planning Officer at Mongla Upazila Health Complex, said a patient showing Covid symptoms came to the hospital on Thursday.

"We suspect it could be a Covid case, but without testing kits, we couldn't confirm. The patient was referred to Khulna Medical College Hospital for testing and was treated based on symptoms," he added.

Two days earlier, another suspected Covid patient was also turned away due to the kit shortage.

No vaccine for new Covid sub-variants, 3.2 million old doses in stock

Dr Shaheen confirmed that Mongla Health Complex had submitted a requisition for 1,000 antigen test kits to the DGHS on June 10, but no kits had arrived by Thursday afternoon.

Dr Asim Kumar Samaddar, Superintendent of Sadar hospital, said 150 antigen test kits were delivered to the hospital on June 16. However, none of them had been used as of Thursday, due to the need for selective testing amid limited supply.

“We are conducting tests only for those with strong indications of Covid infection. For RT-PCR testing, we are sending patients to Khulna Medical College Hospital, Satkhira Medical College Hospital, or Jessore University of Science and Technology,” he said.

Dr Samaddar warned that the new Covid variant appears to be more dangerous and has a higher mortality rate. “The elderly and children are particularly at risk. Everyone must remain alert and follow health safety guidelines,” he advised.

The hospital has allocated 20 beds for potential Covid patients, and if more kits are supplied, testing will be expanded as needed, he added.

Dr ASM Mahbubul Alam, Civil Surgeon of Bagerhat, said that none of the nine upazila health complexes in the district currently have antigen rapid test kits.

“We have sent requests to the health directorate from every upazila. Currently, only the district hospital has 150 kits,” he said.

Khulna medical prepares 40 beds for COVID patients

“Due to the limited number of kits, we are instructing doctors to screen patients carefully before conducting tests,” Dr Alam added.

According to data from the district health department, Bagerhat tested 32,714 samples for Covid-19 up to June 2023.

Of these, 8,022 were confirmed positive. So far, 144 people have died from Covid in the district, while 7,878 have recovered.