Though Bangladesh is now passing through a risky period of coronavirus pandemic, many people are still showing reluctance to strictly follow the government’s guidance, pushing the country to fall in a perilous situation. Lack of consciousness and the attitude of ‘nothing will happen to me’ are prompting many to go outside their houses without any need and also gossip in streets without maintaining social distance. Kitchen markets are the most relaxed areas for a number of people.
Analysing the situation, experts said there is no alternative to maintain social distancing and stay at home to prevent COVID-19 spread. The government’s regular briefing on Saturday said that in the last 24 hours, 306 people were infected with COVID-19 and the death toll was 9. As a result, a total of 2144 were infected. Of them 84 people died of coronavirus and 66 recovered.
So far 52 districts have been detected with coronavirus. Most patients with Covid-1 have been identified in Dhaka district. About 32 percent of the infected are in Dhaka followed by Narayanganj and Gazipur. Corona test has been extended in the past few days. The number of patients and deaths is increasing. The number of infected people may be the highest during the last week of April or the first week of May.
At this time, people have to stay at home as much as possible to comply with hygiene. Some people are obeying government directives while some others are not. Disobeying the instructions is likely to increase the risk of getting infected.
Virologist Professor Nazrul Islam told The Bangladesh Post that ‘The situation is getting worse day by day. The virus has spread throughout the country. We are still far behind the virus. People must have to stay at home during this time. But the reality is different. The poor people are having a hard time. We have to manage them by ensuring their essential needs.”
“However, the government must increase the number of tests. At the upazila level, samples should be collected and tested. Besides, more hospitals with necessary facilities must have to detect coronavirus infected people,” he added. In the wake of outbreak of coronavirus, garment workers have been protesting to press home their demand for salaries in various parts of the country, including Dhaka.
People across the country who are buying TCB products at fair prices are not maintaining social distance. People are not following any rules to distribute relief materials in some areas. However, social distance is maintaining in presence of the local administration in few areas. Beyond the necessary purchase, people continue to chat in the tea shops. People are still getting out, ignoring lockdowns in even the most vulnerable districts and areas while many are continuing to move from one district to another.
Some people are moving to Dhaka and Narayanganj, which have been identified as hot spots of coronavirus. According to local administration, police seized a passenger bus and three microbes, pickups and ambulances when they entered Thakurgaon district from Dhaka and Narayangonj on April 9.
From 4 to 14 April, at least 10,000 people went to the remote areas of Patuakhali district from these two districts. The local administration instructed them to remain in home quarantine. Within a week, hundreds of people from Narayanganj went to Lakshmipur district. The district health department has collected about 50 samples for the Corona test as others are in hiding.
In the last four to five days, hundreds of people have entered different places of Magura district from Narayanganj. A mobile court has fined two trawler drivers, who came to Muladi in Barisal with 32 passengers from Dhaka on Wednesday night, for disobeying the lockdown.
Professor Saif Ullah Munshi, head of Virology department Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) told The Bangladesh Post that “First of all, the government should strictly enforce the directives and health guidelines so that people do not come out of their homes without emergency need. The second is to enhance the facilities of testing and ensure proper medical care for the victims. Thirdly, food for poor people must be ensured. It cannot be done by the government alone. For this, initiatives of individuals and private organizations are the need of the hour. In addition, regular motivational campaigns should be increased. People have to maintain social distancing and clean their hands with soap regularly. The law enforcers need to be more vigilant at this time.”