Covid-19 cases hitting alarming level

The Covid-19 cases in Bangladesh are jumping day by day at an alarming rate, evident by the fact that Sunday’s fresh infection tally of 596 is nearly double compared to Monday’s figure of 304 recorded cases.

An analysis of the data collected from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) shows that the daily rate of fresh Covid infections in the country was only 1.91 per cent on June 13, and just a week later, this rate now stands at 7.38 per cent.

Along with hundreds of citizens, many of the country’s VIPs, including the planning minister, education minister, and Awami League’s Joint General Secretary have gotten infected by the virus in recent times.

Speaking to The Business Post, a number of health sector experts said if the current daily rate of fresh Covid infections is not brought down, Bangladesh could face the advent of a fourth wave.

Bangladesh on Sunday registered 596 fresh Covid-19 cases, the highest in 15 weeks. Meanwhile, the daily infection rate jumped to 7.38 per cent, the highest since February 20 this year.

However, the country recorded no Covid-related deaths during this particular period, keeping the tally at 29,131, according to the DGHS data. More than 100 new cases were logged every day in the last six days since June 12, when the infection rate was 2.06 per cent.

‘We could be heading for 4th wave’

Principal Scientific Officer at the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) Dr ASM Alamgir said, “The way Covid-19 infections are rising for the past week, if this trend continues, we could be heading for a 4th wave in a few days. We must be very careful.”

Dr Mohammad Robed Amin, line director at the Non Communicable Disease Control under the DGHS, said, “Covid cases are rising in different countries around the world because of a new sub-variant of the Omicron.

“Since there are no strict travel bans anymore, this sub-variant can enter Bangladesh via anyone coming from an affected country. And if this trend continues like this the next wave could hit us.”

Echoing the same, IEDCR advisor and prominent pathologist Dr Mushtaq Hossain said, “Many people around the world, including in Bangladesh, have become infected with the Covid-19. If the number of infections continues to rise every day, the fourth wave could hit Bangladesh.”

According to the DGHS officials, although most of the new patients were found in Dhaka city, they have noticed a significant lack of awareness among people all over the country over the past few days.

The good news is, despite the increase in infections, the number of patients coming to the hospital is very low, said a number of healthcare professionals, adding that the victims are receiving treatment from home without any hassles.

However, they are concerned over the fact that if the daily Covid positivity rate continues the current upward trend, it may not take long for the country’s hospital beds to fill up.

All three experts emphasised the importance of Covid-19 inoculation, and said if the people act a little more seriously about complying with health safety guidelines, the ongoing situation could have been avoided.

These experts recommended the people to follow health guidelines such as wearing masks, marinating social distance, and avoid all types of public gatherings. They trio also urged the government to take necessary preventative measures at all air, land and sea ports.

Those who have not been inoculated against the Covid-19 should take the shots as soon as possible, they added.

Bangladesh reported its first three Covid cases on March 8, 2020, and recorded the first death from this deadly virus 10 days later.

Since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh, November 20, 2021 was the first day that saw no Covid deaths in a 24-hours period. The country registered the highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year, and the highest daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 the same year.