Published in: The Daily Star

Date: 1 May 2020

The deadly coronavirus has wormed its way into every part of the country, except Rangamati, on the 53rd day since the first case was reported, claiming 168 lives until yesterday.

Five deaths were reported yesterday with 564 infections, taking the number of positive cases to 7,667, Prof Nasima Sultana, additional director general (administration) of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), said during yesterday’s briefing.

Of the deceased, three were male and two were female, Prof Nasima informed, mentioning that two were above 60 years old and three between 41 and 50.

Four of the deceased were from Dhaka, she said.

In the last 24 hours until 2:30pm yesterday, samples of 4,965 people were tested in 29 laboratories across the country.

Dhaka continued to be the worst affected region with 83.3 percent of total positive cases belong to this division.

According to Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) website, 3,751 cases were detected in Dhaka city while 1,992 in the 12 other districts in the division.

Narayanganj has the second-highest rate of infection with 923 cases reported as of yesterday.

The two districts have also witnessed the highest number of deaths due to coronavirus — Dhaka 89 and Narayanganj 39.

“We see the cases are becoming double in every three days. Thanks to the weak healthcare system, we will not be able to resist bigger number of deaths in the days to come,” Prof Saif Ullah Munshi, chairman of virology department at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) told The Daily Star yesterday.

“Many Covid-19 deaths will remain unknown due to the inadequate number of tests,” he added.

As of yesterday, a total of 956 Covid-19 patients were undergoing treatment in Dhaka hospitals.

Of them, 95 were admitted in the last 24 hours until 2:30pm yesterday.

So far, 160 people have recovered from the disease, taking the tally to 160.

The recovery rate is too small compared to the deaths and the total number of infections.

During the briefing, Prof Nasima Sultana informed that a total of 4,965 samples were tested in 29 laboratories across the country yesterday.

PRIVATE HOSPITALS GET PERMISSION FOR COVID-19 TEST

Prof Nasima Sultana informed that any private hospitals can run Covid-19 laboratories after getting permission from the DGHS.

Evercare Hospital has started testing while Square Hospital and the United Hospital have started collecting samples for test, she informed.

Besides, Labaid, Ibn Sina and some other diagnostic centres have sought approval for Covid-19 testing.

“The applications are under scrutiny and will be permitted under some conditions within one or two days,” Prof Nasima said.

NUMBER OF INFECTED DOCTORS INCREASING

With the number of Covid-19 cases spiralling, many doctors are contracting the virus.

At least 500 doctors got infected with the virus as of last night, Nirupam Das, chief administrator of Bangladesh Doctors’ Foundation, said.

Lack or poor quality of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), improper use of PPEs, community transmission and tendencies of some patients to hide their disease history are to be blamed for the increase in infection among doctors, he said.

Apart from the infected doctors, some 600 to 700 doctors are currently either in home or institutional quarantine, he added.

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