Prominent journalist Kamal Lohani tests positive for Covid-19

Veteran journalist and cultural organiser Kamal Lohani tested positive for coronavirus today.

He was taken to Sheikh Russell Gastro Liver Institute and Hospital in the capital's Mohakhali this afternoon.

Faruk Ahmed, director of the hospital, told The Daily Star "Kamal Lohani was taken to the ICU at around 5:15pm. I will be able to inform you about his physical condition after our doctors complete his check-up."

Urmi Lohani, daughter of Kamal Lohani, said, "He was shifted to Shikdar Medical College at Gulshan from Health and Hope Hospital this morning, as his physical condition deteriorated".

He was admitted to Health and Hope Hospital for kidney and lung related complications and was on life support at the ICU (intensive care unit) of the hospital, Urmi said in the morning.

"We found out today morning that he is positive for Covid-19 and tried to admit him to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka but failed, as the authorities claimed there is no vacant seat available in CMH for Covid-19 patients," she added.

Earlier, Kamal, aged around 86, was admitted to the same hospital in the middle of last month with kidney and lungs related complications.

He was taken back home after two weeks as the number of Covid-19 cases were increasing.

"But we were compelled to take him to the hospital again as his condition deteriorated drastically," his son Sagar Lohani said.