Amdadul Haque
In the wake of rising number of corona-infected patients and spreading of the deadly virus to new areas, strict adherence to lockdown rules and social distancing are likely to fix the state of coronavirus in the coming days. Expressing such view, experts have suggested waiting a couple of weeks to see the behaviour of this deadly disease. They opined that if the lockdown is effectively complied with, it is possible to control the infection within 14 days. And if the lockdown goes slow, then Bangladesh will have to pay a heavy price.
On April 20, 492 corona patients were identified in the country. Then on April 21 it came down to 434 people. On April 24, 503 coronavirus patients were identified, the highest number of infections recorded so far in the country in a day. The total number of victims has increased to 4,689. The death toll now stands at 131, said Prof DrNasima Sultana, additional director general (administration) of Directorate General of Health Services during a briefing on Friday.
Meanwhile, 4 more have recovered, taking the total number of recoveries to 112, DrNasima also said. A total of 3,686 samples were tested in 21 PCR labs across the country since Friday, which is 7.9 percent higher than the previous day, she added. On the other hand, the number of deaths due to this disease has increased. The death toll has risen to 131 with 4 more killed in the last 24 hours. More infected are being died in Dhaka and then Narayanganj. After Dhaka and Narayanganj, Corona is now spreading its roots in Gazipur, Kishorganj and Narsingdi.
The analysis showed that the number of corona samples tested in the country in the last few days has increased. But the death toll is almost the same in last few days. In this situation, the question has arisen about the behaviour of coronavirus in the country. Many say that for some reason the number of victims may have decreased. But as the number of asymptomatic patients increases across the country, the incidence rate will go up. Again, some say that it is not time to analyze the current state of the virus.
Asking about this, Medicine expert DrJakir Hussain told The Bangladesh Post that the number of victims has started declining in the last two days. My guess is that the situation will get a lot better in the rest of April. Therefore, the lockdown must be strictly observed. He emphasized on adhering to hygiene rules in order to reap the benefits.
He said more young people die after being infected, adding that the idea was that more adults would die from the disease. But they are staying at home following the hygiene rules. This results in lower mortality in the elderly. On the other hand, young people are coming out of the house without following any kind of hygiene rules. For this reason, the rate of infection is higher among them and also the higher number of deaths.
Professor of Public Health Rashid-e-Mahboob told media that the picture of victims is not fully understood yet. However, the virus is now 'flat'. The nature of this virus will be clear in the next two weeks. Those who have been infected, they and their families are not leaving the houses now. There is a risk for those who have not yet been infected and are asymptomatic.
He said the government declared general holiday not for socializing but for social distancing. "Except for China, every other country had that one imported case that infected others locally and finally the disease spread through local community transmission. Statistical evidence from other countries explains that social distancing at this point is the major intervention that can help us blunt the expected exponential spike,"Mahboob said.
"The next two to three weeks are the most critical for us, a full-on measure of social distancing may spare us from an Italy or Iran-like scenario. It is our duty as individuals to do our part and stop the disease at its track," he added. Asking about the importance of practicing social distance, physician DrMuhibur Rahman said COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact (within about 6 feet) for a prolonged period. Spread happens when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, and droplets from their mouth or nose are launched into the air and land in the mouths or noses of people nearby. The droplets can also be inhaled into the lungs. Recent studies indicate that people who are infected but do not have symptoms likely also play a role in the spread of COVID-19.
He said, it may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes. COVID-19 can live for hours or days on a surface, depending on factors such as sun light and humidity. Social distancing helps limit contact with infected people and contaminated surfaces.
"Although the risk of severe illness may be different for everyone, anyone can get and spread COVID-19. Everyone has a role to play in slowing the spread and protecting themselves, their family, and their community," he added. WHO noticed that there are still chances of getting infected when we touch our nose, mouth, or eyes after touching a contaminated surface.
The lipid coating of the virus has hydrophobic and hydrophilic ends. Soap contains fat-like substances, structurally similar to the lipids in the virus membrane. When we wash our hands with soap, the soap molecules “compete” with the lipids in the virus membrane. The soap and water dissolve the glue-like bond between the virus and skin surface, tugs on the lipid membrane of the virus and ruptures the bond, destroys it and washes it away. As skin is rough and wrinkly, a fair amount of rubbing and soaking ensures that the soap reaches every nook and cranny on the skin surface that could be hiding active viruses.
In the absence of soap and water, 60%-80% ethanol-based hand sanitizer’s alcohol can also dissolve the lipid membrane and destroy the virus.
