Amid a worsening healthcare crisis in the city, Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) and community leaders have teamed up to turn two community centres into isolation centres, in a bid to deal with the increasing number of Covid-19 patients.

City Convention Hall, a community centre at Excess Road of Agrabad is being readied as an isolation centre led by CCC, while "Prince of Chittagong" at K-Block in Halisahar is ready to admit people.

The first one will accommodate 250 patients, while the latter will have 100 seats for Covid-19 patients.

Shamsuddoha, chief executive officer of CCC told The Daily Star that they were conducting a three-day training workshop to doctors, nurses and other staff.

two doctors at the isolation centre conducting a workshop on PPE usage and how to care for coronavirus patients. Photo: Rajib Raihan

"We hope to complete the training in three days and will be able to launch our service from June 17," he said.

He said the isolation centre will treat mild and moderate cases, with arrangement of oxygen support. In case of ICU support, the patient would be transferred to a hospital with ICU.

Amirul Haque, proprietor of City Convention Hall and managing director of Seacom Group, told The Daily Star that the country has created opportunity for people like him to thrive in business.

"I thought now it is time to pay back. When contacted by CCC, I decided to offer my convention hall for isolation centre, and promised to provide all logistic support to keep it operational", he added.

Former Chhatra League leader Nurul Azim Rony, who is leading the initiative for the isolation centre in Halisahar, told The Daily Star they have started taking in Covid-19 patients at their facility.

"This centre has readied 65 beds so far among 100 beds. We engaged 13 doctors as of now but are struggling to find volunteers. Once we manage that, we will turn it 100 beds", he said. This facility will also treat mild to moderate patients with oxygen support.