The Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Friday (June 19) offered an apology as his statement over the possible duration of coronavirus prevalence in the country created confusion among the people.
“Confusion was created over a comment that DGHS DG Dr Abul Kalam Azad made at a regular health bulletin yesterday (Thursday). The DG deeply regrets the incident,” a DGHS press release read.
It claimed that the script of his speech was prepared in a hurry and the DG could not go through it due to shortage of time.
While speaking at the regular briefing on Thursday, Dr Azad said, “According to the experience of different countries and public health experts, the prevalence of coronavirus will not end in one, two or even three months. It will last for two to three years or more. Although we think the infection rate will wane to a large extent.”
Dr Md Jahangir Kabir, assistant director (co-ordination) of DGHS, in the clearance press release of Friday, said Dr Abul Kalam Azad delivered his speech following the quickly prepared script.
“Later, he realised that it could lead to ambiguity. Therefore, the issue was clarified at the regular health bulletin that was issued later in the form of a press release,” he added.
However, neither the clearance press release, nor the subsequent health bulletin stated that the DG changed his stance and withdrew his statement over the possible duration of the deadly virus in the country.
