The number of coronavirus deaths is rising in Bangladesh by the day with the increase of new cases. Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Sunday said seven patients died of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours and a record 312 new cases were detected by testing 2,634 samples. With that, the number of total deaths rose to 91 and cases 2,456.
Nine more patients made recovery during the period between 8am on Saturday to 8am on Sunday, the health minister announced at 2.30pm briefing. Total 75 patients recovered so far. The government is enforcing nationwide lockdown till April 25 declaring the entire country at risk of the virus spread due to community transmission.
According to the health directorate, about 40 districts are under complete lockdown to stem the spread of the virus. Others are partially locked down. The health minister asked all to maintain the lockdown and said steady rate of increasing cases is a ‘good sign’ for the country. The daily increase has been limited to around 300 since April 12.
“If it remains the same in the coming days then we’re lucky. If it increases then it will be terrible for everyone,” he said, adding that ICU is not proving helpful for the critical patients. “I say it with sorrow that the ICU support outside Dhaka for the critically ill patients is not working well. Eight of the nine deceased across the country who were given the ventilation treatment have died,” he said.
He also deplored the mass gathering in Brahmanbaria for the funeral of an Islamic party leader on Saturday. “Such gathering is unacceptable and the administration there has failed to ensure that.” He reiterated that Bangladesh is still in a better condition than most of the countries considering the seventh week of infection.
The global death toll from coronavirus reached 160,757 on Sunday morning. There have been 2,330,986 confirmed cases around the world since the first case was reported in China in December last year, according to worldometer. Of those infected, 1,573,542 are currently being treated and 55,265 of them are in serious or critical condition. So far, 596,687 people have recovered.
Bangladesh confirmed the first cases on March 8. The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the virus pandemic on March 11. Bangladesh reported the first death on March 18. The government formed a 17-membe advisory committee of medical experts on Saturday to help prepare the hospitals. Coronavirus disease causes respiratory illness (like the flu) with symptoms such as a cough, fever, and in more severe cases, difficulty breathing.
It spreads primarily through contact with an infected person when they cough or sneeze. It also spreads when a person touches a surface or object that has the virus on it, then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth. There’s currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease (COVID-19). But there are ways to prevent the virus from infection, according to the World Health Organisation.
“Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub; cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or flexed elbow when you cough or sneeze; avoid close contact (1 meter or 3 feet) with people who are unwell and stay home and self-isolate from others in the household if you feel unwell,” are some of the preventive acts.
People are advised not to touch eyes, nose, or mouth with unclean hands to prevent the infection. The government advised people to call 333 or 16263 and sought suggestions with the symptoms of the virus infection such as fever, cough and breathing difficulties. The IEDCR advised people with mild symptoms to take treatment from their homes staying in isolation according to the WHO. In such cases, family members have to maintain safe distance from the patients.
