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‘Increase coronavirus tests’


Published : 30 May 2020 08:20 PM | Updated : 05 Sep 2020 11:02 AM

Increasing the volume of the Covid-19 sample tests is an emergency right now to avert a Brazil like serious situation in Bangladesh, say global statistics.

Attending cardiologist at the University of Massachusetts in the United States of America Mashrafe Ahmed said, “If the number of sample tests is not increased Bangladesh may face the same fate as Brazil”.

However, the civil surgeon of Dhaka Moinul Ahsan said that this is a great achievement as Bangladesh is still in the third stage of transmission.

As the government has increased the test labs across the country experts opine that the highest utilization of these labs can help increase the number of tests to more than double.

Although the number of test labs has increased to 49,000, the coronavirus sample test is stuck at an average of 9000 daily, according to government information. 

At present, the country’s 49 test labs have the capacity to test more than 15,000 samples in 24 hours. But due to the shortage of skilled manpower, these labs tested the highest 10000 samples in a day.

Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control & Research (IEDCR) advisor Mushtuq Husain told journalists, “due to the lack of skilled manpower and proper logistical support, we are unable to get the highest return from these lab capacities”.

Former Vice-Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and a professor of the Department of Virology Nazrul Islam said, “There is a sufficient number of laboratories across the country. It is unclear why the volume of tests is not increasing.”

However, the Health Ministry informed that to get the maximum use of this lab capacity, 3000 manpower is going to be recruited soon.

It is to be noted that although the country ranks 22nd in the list of infected countries it stood at 150th position in the testing list in terms of the population proportion.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare high officials, to increase the daily sample testing more sample collecting booths will be established in the country.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque recently said the number of coronavirus sample tests will be increased to 15,000 soon.

He was speaking as the chief guest at the reception of 5,000 newly appointed nurses at the conference room of Directorate General of Nursing and Midwifery in the capital’s Agargaon.

Meanwhile, in spite of a large number of testing labs and hotlines in the capital, there are allegations that it takes quite a long time to get the test results. Besides, there are suspicions about the accuracy of the test results.