Relaxing of the ongoing shutdown would be a big blow to the nation right now as the coronavirus transmission rate continues showing an upward trend, say experts.
On Friday, Bangladesh recorded the number of cases at 42,844 with the detection of a record 2,523 new cases in 24 hours.
Professor Dr. ABM Abdullah earlier told Bangladesh Post, "The people of our country have failed to ensure social distancing so far. It created a serious and vulnerable situation for everyone. If we fail to maintain social distancing right now, the nation will fall into grave risk of coronavirus spreading."
He urged people to avoid all congregations right now.
Talking to Bangladesh Post, public health expert Dr Monirul Islam said, “We are fighting the peak time; still fighting indeed. These two weeks before and after Eid are the most crucial timeline for Covid-19. People should now be thankful how they are fighting with minimal safety materials and only with awareness.”
“Authorities concerned must act upon mass movement in large volumes, and if needed, curfew or more strict action should now be the only measures as the death toll is soaring. Reopening obviously poses threat”
We may have to endure the second wave silently if the spree of infections continues, he added.
“Many people have traveled on this Eid leading to fears that the infection will increase further. In this case, there is no other alternative but strict adherence to hygiene to control the infection. Otherwise, a major health crisis may occur,” he further said.
In this context, a former Vice Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Professor Kamrul Hasan Khan said, now the rate of corona infection is going up in the country. The real picture is not yet visible.
However, it is not appropriate to relax the lockdown. Therefore, at this time such a decision is a threat to public health, he elaborated.
Prof Dr Nasima Sultana, the Additional Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), said at the regular online briefing that 49 RT-PCR labs tested 11,301 samples across the country in 24 hours ending Friday, the highest number of tests Bangladesh has carried out in a single day so far.
Dr Nasima Sultana, who is also the acting Director General of DGHS, said the infection rate in Bangladesh was recorded at 22.33 percent Friday.
Against the total number of detected cases, the recovery rate is 21.04 percent and the mortality rate is 1.36 percent in the country.
