The number of COVID-19 patients in capital Dhaka’s red zones is increasing in leaps and bounds leaving city dwellers at severe health risks, said official sources.
According to them, at least 129 patients infected by the deadly virus have been detected in one of the `red zones’ over the past three days.
Officials concerned opined that the number of coronavirus infected people is increasing as awareness among the people of those areas is not increasing despite being declared dwellers of `Red Zones.’ All the activities in those areas are being carried out as usual like in other areas across the country.
No measures had even been taken by any of the government authorities in those `Red Zones,’ till Saturday.
Moreover, the number of COVID-19 patients has also increased in the capital’s East Rajabazar area where lockdown has been enforced considering it one of the red zones from June 9. At least 300 more new COVID-19 patients have been detected even after lockdown being enforced in the area.
According to official sources, the number of COVID-19 patients has increased in different areas adjacent to East Rajabazar.
One of the members of the committee formed to prevent coronavirus, Dr. Shah Monir Hossain, who is also a former director general of the Health Department, said, “The number of COVID-19 patients will increase continuously and transmission of COVID-19 to people and infection will continue until the people follow health directives.”
“Everybody must follow health guidelines like maintenance of social distancing, wearing masks and washing hands with soap. Otherwise, transmission of the virus and infection will continue to increase, said Dr Shah Monir Hossain.
A total of 45 areas in capital Dhaka have been declared as `Red Zones’ from June 13. The areas where at least 60 people per one lakh people have tested positive for COVID-19 have been declared `Red Zone’.
According to sources, the number of corona patients has continued to increase in different `Red Zones. Of them, the highest 129 new patients have been detected in Mirpur area, which is also one of the `Red Zones,’ in the last three days while 60 new patients have been detected in Uttara and 57 in Mohammadpur areas.
Besides, 20 to 40 new patients have been detected in each of eight other `Red Zones’.
37 more people died from coronavirus infections in the 24 hours upto Saturday and the death toll is now 1,425.