Health Minister Zahid Maleque has inaugurated health service for Covid-19 patients at Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College Hospital in Dhaka by announcing it a "designated hospital".

From today, Covid-19 infected patients can be treated at the hospital until October this year, the health minister said while addressing an inaugural function at the auditorium of the hospital this noon.

There are enough skilled and experienced doctors, nurses and staffers at the hospital with 700 beds and of these, 500 will be dedicated for coronavirus infected patients, he said.

In addition, the hospital is equipped with 10 ICUs, seven ventilators, seven dialysis machines and other necessary equipment with at least 75 separate cabins, and the government will add more facilities if needs, he said.

About setting up a coronavirus testing lab at the hospital, the minister said at least one lab will be installed at the hospital immediately to accelerate the Covid-19 treatment.

On May 7, the government reached a deal with Bangladesh Red Crescent Society regarding turning it into a designated hospital for Covid-19 treatment.