It is encouraging to note that Bangladesh is now ranked first out of eight countries in South Asia and fifth out of 121 countries across the globe on Nikkei's Covid-19 Recovery Index. With a score of 80 on the index, Bangladesh ranks only below Qatar, UAE, Cambodia and Rwanda in the latest edition of the index published on Thursday.
Nearly six months after researchers in South Africa identified the Omicron coronavirus variant, two offshoots of the game-changing lineage are once again driving a surge in COVID-19 cases there. Several studies released in the past week show that the variants — known as BA.4 and BA.5 — are slightly more transmissible than earlier forms of Omicron1, and can dodge some of the immune protection conferred by previous infection and vaccination. Considering the increasing trend of Covid-19 cases in South Africa, the government should devise necessary preventive measures based on the experiences garnered from the previous waves so that it can act fast to control the possible next wave and ensure proper healthcare services for the infected people.
We must educate and empower people
to protect themselves from the infection
of the virus
Bangladesh has been seeing a downward trend in the Covid-19 infections for last couple of months now. In the last 16 days till Friday, the country recorded zero deaths from the virus. According to health authorities, about 75.46 per cent of the population has received at least a single shot of the vaccine, while 68.19 per cent is completely vaccinated. However, the government must take drastic steps to compel people to maintain social distancing and follow health guidelines. Hospitals should remain prepared with all necessary equipment and facilities so that they can face any challenge if the situation worsens in the coming days.
We must educate and empower people to protect themselves from the infection of the virus. It needs no mentioning that self-defence is the best way to prevent a pandemic like corona. Also, we have to involve people with plans and programmes to control the virus. Without people’s involvement and cooperation, it would be tough to control the possible Covid-19 fifth wave successfully.