With the COVID-19 pandemic expanding its lethal grip all over the country, Gazipur, Narashindi and Kishoreganj districts have emerged as three new hotspots of the deadly disease. After Dhaka and Narayanganj, the two most-affected cities in the country, the three districts now have the largest number of patients – 161 in Gazipur, 104 in Narsingdi and 76 in Kishoreganj.
As of Sunday noon, the total number of people affected in the country stood at 2,456 and the death toll at 91, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Noted virologist and former Vice Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Nazrul Islam told the media, "Bangladesh is crossing its sixth week of the coronavirus and things have dramatically changed since the first month.”
“Observing the world trend, it was quite expected that the infection rate would go up substantially at some point of time and coping with it would be a great challenge for a country like Bangladesh,” he added. He said even though the country is currently under lockdown with complete movement restriction after 6pm, the infection rate as the percentage of total tested has gone up since the fourth week.
After the sixth week, Italy had an average cumulative death rate of 6.29pc against 6.70pc in Bangladesh, Nazrul Islam said drawing an analogy between the two countries.
58 health workers, 10 cops infected in Gazipur
Fifty-eight health workers and 10 policemen are among the 161 people who have tested positive for coronavirus in Gazipur. The local administration put all markets under lockdown but it could not deter people from carrying out their usual business. Some markets are operating like they do under normal circumstances.
Besides, hundreds of readymade garment workers are seen holding demonstrations and processions to press their various demands. A number of locals said the government-imposed shutdown has had very little impact as people continue to flout rules of social distancing and staying indoors.
104 cases in Narshingdi
Twelve more people tested positive for coronavirus in Narshingdi on Sunday taking the total number of cases to 104 in the district.
Confirming the information, Imrul Kayes, additional deputy commissioner and chief of Narsingdi Coronavirus Prevention Emergency Cell, said doctors, engineers, project officers, health directorate officials, journalists and children are among the infected.
24 test positive in Kishoreganj in a day
Twenty-four people tested positive for the coronavirus as of Saturday taking the total number to 76 in the district. Confirming the new cases, Civil Surgeon Dr Md Mujibur Rahman said 11 of the 76 confirmed cases in the district are physicians. Altogether 93 samples were sent to the IEDCR in Dhaka for testing on Friday and they confirmed 24 with the virus, he said.
Among the total cases in the district, 15 are in Bhairab upazila, 16 in Karimganj, two in Bajitpur, five in Itna, three in Pakundia, 11 in Tarail, seven in Kuliarchar, two in Katiadi, three in Mithamoin, one in Nikli, one in Astagram, two in Hosenpur and eight in Sadar upazila. Another 125 samples were sent to IEDCR for testing on Saturday, said the civil surgeon.
The first coronavirus case was confirmed in April 9 in the district and within only nine days since then, the total number rose to 76 in the district.
Lack of expert supervision Dr Nazrul Islam observed that due to the lack of an expert for supervision and consultation on the matter, coronavirus is spreading at a higher rate.
“A plethora of problems such as lack of infectious disease specialists, mismanagement in relief distribution leaves everyone in risk. People aren’t maintaining proper isolation at home,” he said.
The doctor said the participation of thousands of people from different areas in a funeral in Brahmanbaria yesterday, defying government orders to maintain social distancing and self-isolation, has increased the risk of infection.
“Hundreds of people are gathering in markets too. If this is the situation, what is the purpose of lockdown,” he asked frustratingly.
