One more died and 18 new patients have been diagnosed as the government has spotted five locations of community transmission of coronavirus in Bangladesh.
With the update, the number of patients form the pandemic virus stood at 88. Of them nine died, and 33, including new three announced during the Sunday’s briefing, recovered. People have been asked to strictly maintain government instructions. “This is our time.
We should not take it (virus) out of control,” Health Minister Zahid Maleque said, appealing to all to stay at home.
He seemed irritated as hundreds of thousands of garment workers returned back to Dhaka due to the RMG owners’ decision of opening their factories. The decision suspended amid public criticism.
“This is indeed a terrible act,” the health minister said, lamenting his inability to control the BGMEA and BKMEA.
“This is in no way good in the current situation. We will make sure that this type of incident does not occur again. But the BGMEA and BKMEA are not under the Health Directorate so we cannot directly control their actions,” he said.
He also asked people on the street and markets to stay at home. “Those who distribute relief materials reach those to the home. Don’t bring them (receivers) out of the home”.
Director of the IEDCR Prof Meerjady Sabrina Flora, who earlier suggested community transmission is happening in a limited scale, said they have spotted five areas where they are working intensely.
“We got most of our cases from those areas. We can see community transmission in those areas,” she said, naming Bashabo and Tolarbagh inside Dhaka, Narayanganj at the outskirt of Dhaka, Madaripur a district in central Bangladesh, and northern Gaibandha.
The 55-year-old man who died was a resident of Narayanganj, she said.
The government tested 367 samples in the last 24 hours as the facilities have been expanded outside Dhaka.
Director General for Health Services Prof Abul Kalam Azad said 84 people with the suspect of having the virus are in isolation.
“We kept 1120 people in quarantine in the last 24 hours,” he said as the government traces contacts of the coronavirus positive patients.
He urged all to wash hands with soap, not to touch face, mouth with unwashed hands, cover cough and sneezes and maintain physical distance with the affected person.
“If you feel fever or cough or throat pain which is very common in this season - stay at home and take over the counter medicines such as paracetamol and drink lukewarm water. You can call us in our numbers,” he said, giving the hotline numbers that include: 16263 and 333 of the health directorate and I0655 and 019 44 333 222 of IEDCR hotlines.
“Trained doctors attend those calls and prescribe you what to do. Please follow their instructions,” he urged.
The government earlier extended general holidays to April 14. All public transports will remain closed. Police said they would prevent any movement to and from Dhaka.
The health minister assured people of providing all out services during this time of crisis. “We are opening separate corners in every upazillas,” he said, asking private doctors and hospitals to keep their services on.
“If you (private hospitals, doctors) face any problem, just inform us. We’ll help you. But don’t keep yourself away from the duty during this crisis, then you will do injustice to the people,” he said.
He said they are also keeping Hydroxychloroquine drug ready following the United States’ decision to use this anti-malaria drug to treat COVID-19 patients.
The global death toll from this COVID-19 reached 64,716 as of Sunday. So far 1,201,933 people have been infected around the world, according to worldometer. The virus was first reported in China’s Wuhan city in later December.