The coronavirus outbreak is taking a dangerous turn in the country with the number of patients multiplying every day. At the initial stage, the rate of infection was at a tolerable level. But in the last few days, it has increased manifold. 706 people tested positive for coronavirus in the country from Wednesday to Thursday. 199 people died from the virus till Thursday. Of the total Covid-19 infection cases in the country, 52.40 percent patients tested positive in the previous 10 days – a sign that the infection rate is on the rise these days.
As per the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 34 laboratories across the country conduct testing for coronavirus (as per data till Thursday). These labs have so far completed testing of 105,513 people. Of them, 12,425 tested positive for coronavirus. Against the deaths of 199 patients, 1,910 others have, so far, recovered from the virus.
The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research Institute (IEDCR) started activities for detection of coronavirus cases on January 21 this year. Until February 29, it tested samples of 87 people but none of them tested positive for coronavirus. On March 8, three people in Dhaka and Madaripur found to be Covid-19 positive. It’s been two months since the first cases were detected.
Though the number of people infected with the virus was very few at the first stage, the virus soon started spreading. After much criticism from public health experts, the testing facility was later expanded in the middle of March; initially a handful of institutes based in Dhaka Dhaka-based were allowed to conduct testing but the facility was later expanded to 34 labs across the country.
As per IEDCR, in the last two months since first coronavirus cases were detected on March 8, a total of 12,425 people have been diagnosed with the virus. But in the last 10 days from April 28 to May 7 noon, 6,512 people tested positive for coronavirus against the testing of 55,112 people. The number of deaths during this period was recorded at 47 which is 24 percent of the total number of deaths. 1,769 people recovered during the period.
From April 18 to April 27, samples of 41,324 people were examined across the country for the virus. Of them, 4,075 or 32.80 percent of the total came out coronavirus positive. However, maximum 77 deaths or 38.70 percent of the total deaths were recorded in that 10-day period. 73 patients recovered during the time.
From April 8 to April 17, samples of 14,788 people were tested across the country. Of them, 1,674 or 13.50 percent of the total tested positive for coronavirus. During this time, 58 patients died and 40 recovered.
From March 29 to April 7, a total of 116 people -- less than 1 percent of the total tested found to be coronavirus positive. 12 patients died and 18 others recovered during this time.
From March 19 to March 28, samples of 725 people were examined across the country. Of them, 34 tested positive for coronavirus. During this time, four patients died and 15 recovered.
From March 8 to March 18, only one person was found to be coronavirus positive against the testing of 351 people. None died during this 10-day period.
As per the IEDCR data, the first infections were detected in Dhaka, Narayanganj and Madaripur. Later, the infection spread across the country. At present, coronavirus patients are found in all the 64 districts in the country. Of all the divisions across the country, Dhaka is worst hit. Of the total Covid-19 patients, Dhaka division accounts for 83.5 percent, Chattagram 4.70 percent, Mymensingh 3.78 percent, Sylhet 1.66 percent, Rangpur 2.27 percent, Khulna 1.95 percent, Barishal 1.25 percent and Rajshahi 1.32 percent.
While comparing the rate of infections among various age groups, youths are most vulnerable to catching the virus. Patients aged below 10 years constitute 3 per cent of the total infectees, while the number is 8 per cent for age group between 11 to 20 and 26 per cent for age group of 21-30 years, 24 per cent for group between 31-40 years. The numbers are 18 percent, 13 percent and 8 per cent for age group of 41-50 years, 51-60 years and for sexagenarians.
The analysis of deaths suggests that old people are vulnerable to the virus. 199 people have till Thursday. Of them, sexagenarians constitute for 42 per cent. The percentage of deaths from 51 to 60 years is 27.
19 percent patients who died also belong to the age group of 41 to 50.
On Thursday, during the online health bulletin, Prof Dr Nasima Sultana, additional director general of the DGHS, said deaths of 13 coronavirus patients -- eight were males and five females -- were reported in the previous 24 hours.
at/nm
