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Dhaka at high risk


Bangladeshpost
Published : 06 Apr 2020 10:22 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 12:17 AM

Coronavirus infection and deaths are increasing in the country, and though the government acknowledges the spread of the virus in a limited community transmission, the number of infections based on area, is increasing at an alarming rate.

Dhaka has been identified as the most vulnerable. For this reason, the exit from and entry to Dhaka have been banned indefinitely.
Director General of the Department of Health, Abul Kalam Azad on Monday said at a regular briefing that the coronavirus is no longer confined to one place, but that it is growing.

Professor Ahmedul Kabir, general secretary of Bangladesh Medicine Society, said the country is facing a difficult time. It is important to lockdown the whole country right now. Otherwise, the virus will take an awful lot in the next 10 days.

There was a highest record of coronavirus affected in the country on Monday. In a single day, 35 more people were newly affected while three people died.

This is the highest number of new patients diagnosed in the first 24 hours, after the coronavirus infection was first detected in the country on March 8. So far, the total number of affected people has risen to 123 and the number of deaths to 12. Of the affected, 64 were in Dhaka, 23 in Narayanganj.

That means, 52 percent of the people were affected in Dhaka. Earlier last Sunday, the number of patients diagnosed in Dhaka was 48 out of 88 affected.

Virologists have identified some causes for risk of coronavirus in the country. According to their opinion, the government has taken up a perfect action plan to prevent the virus spread.

Health Minister Zahid Malek and the Director General of Health Department expressed concern over the opening of garment factories on Sunday. Both of them commented that Coronavirus risk was increased due to the decision.

Virologist Professor Nazrul Islam told Bangladesh Post that the coronavirus was less detectable in the country due to lack of testing facility, which is now very clear. Now, maybe it will not be possible because they have established some testing labs in Dhaka, Rajshahi and some other places out of the IEDCR. Hopefully, it will improve the situation. Now we need to increase the scope of this testing, he added.

“We hope to understand the status of this virus in the next 4 or 5 days. Then it will help us to take the right steps. People must stay at home during this time. But the reality is different. The poor people of other classes are having a worse time. We have to manage them by ensuring their essential needs,” he added.

The expert said, “the government has identified five clusters of corona infections, but in which areas is not known. If we do not identify the places, the infection will continue to increase. In this area, you need to find out who is positive, who is spreading it, who is connected with them or who they are approaching. If we cannot do it, the cluster cannot be controlled.

Professor Dr. Nazrul Islam said, "What our work plan is going to be, cannot be fully implemented; There is also a lack of coordination among these workplanes.

For example, patients coming to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University are being tested and treated according to the results. But the Child Foundation sends the patients samples to the Children's Hospital (Shisu Hospital). All those people are being released after samples are taken.

However, from where these people are coming, is not properly identified, and they also get their sample test results late.

There is a risk of spreading the virus from one to another. As a result, the number of affected people is increasing. It is not a good practice. In this situation, suspects should be kept in isolation until the sample is tested. The test result must be disclosed as soon as possible. Then, according to the results, if positive, he/she should be admitted or, released.”

The number of patients has also been increasing since last Friday, and the number of samples and test coverage has increased across the country.

An analysis of the IEDCR data showed that the disease has already spread to 29 areas of the capital. Of these, Tolarbag in Mirpur and Basabo areas have been identified as 'clusters' or area-based transmission areas.

Other affected areas are Swarighat, Bashundhara, Dhanmandi, Jatrabari, Mirpur-10, Mohammadpur, Purana Paltan, Shahibagh, Uttara, Ashkona, Buet Area, Central Road, Eskaton, Gulshan, Green Road, Hazaribagh, Zigatala, Kazipara, Lalbag, Mirpur-11, Mogbazar, Mohakhali, Nikunja, Rampura, Urdu Road and Wari.

Tolarbag and Basabo areas have been infected socially in the capital. In this case, there is a high risk of infection in the capital. However, necessary precautions have already been taken for lockdown of the areas in addition to medical treatment and isolation of affected people.

Narayanganj has been identified as a threatened area immediately after Dhaka, where the number of affected is 23. The next risky areas are Madaripur and Gaibandha district. The IEDCR identified these three districts as cluster areas. Besides, the other affected areas are Gazipur, Chuadanga, Comilla, Cox's Bazar, Shariatpur, Rangpur and Chattogram.

Experts said it is very essential to increase testing facilities to prevent the virus from spreading further. Coronavirus is associated with pneumonia and cold-cough fever, so they should also be tested for these diseases. But it is not being done properly. As a result, the coronavirus is spreading.

Professor Saif Ullah Munshi, Head of Virology Department at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) told Bangladesh Post “first of all, the state should be strict about it so that people do not come out of their homes without urgent need.

The second is to enhance the facilities of testing and to ensure proper medical care for the victims. Thirdly, ensuring food for poor people is a must. It cannot be done by the government alone.

For this, it is essential to be initiatives of personal and private organizations. In addition, regular promotion campaigns should be increased. People have to maintain social distance.

No need to go out of home without essential needs. Clean your hands with soap regularly. The law enforcers need to be more vigilant at this time.”