Published in: The Daily Star
Date: 19 July, 2021

The Associated Press, among others, reported that the easing of the “strict lockdown” for eight days could exacerbate an ongoing surge in Bangladesh fueled by the highly contagious Delta variant, which was first detected in India.

With the spread of the virus rampant, most everything in Bangladesh was ordered shut on July 1, from markets to mass transportation. Law enforcers patrolled the streets and thousands were arrested and sent to jail for violating the lockdown.

Yet even with the new restrictions, virus deaths still hovered around 200 each day and daily infections were still around 11,000, both thought to be undercounts. On July 18, 225 deaths and 11,578 infections were reported.

US-based Foreign Policy also quotes that Bangladesh is the latest South Asian country to experience a serious pandemic surge, following Nepal, Afghanistan, and India who have been hit hard.

“Already there is a scarcity of beds, ICUs, while our healthcare providers are exhausted,” said Be-Nazir Ahmed, a public health expert and former chief of the government’s Health Directorate, while speaking to The Associated Press. “So if the situation worsens and more patients come to hospitals, it will be near impossible to deal with the crisis.”

Despite expert warnings — and with just over 4 million of the country’s 160 million people fully vaccinated — the government announced that from July 15-23, strict restrictions would be lifted and everything would be reopened so people could celebrate the Eid festival, which is normally a boon to the economy.

“But, in all situations people must stay alert, use face masks and strictly follow health instructions,” a government policy statement said.

Government officials have not responded to criticism of the move, claimed the Associated Press report. An official with the Ministry of Public Administration, which issued the order pausing the lockdown, referred The Associated Press to the policy statement when asked for comment. Calls and emails to a spokesperson with the Health Ministry were not returned.

State Minister for Public Administration, Farhad Hossain, told local media on Saturday that the lockdown needed to be eased as a lot of business revolves around the festival.

The result in Dhaka has been crowds of people jamming into malls and markets to do their holiday shopping and others thronging ports and bus stations as they try to make their way to their village homes.

During Eid-ul-Fitr in May, an estimated 10 million of Dhaka’s 20 million residents left to celebrate with their families. A similar number could travel this week.

Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/health/disease/coronavirus/events-who/lockdown/news/pausing-lockdown-could-exacerbate-ongoing-delta-surge-says-ap-report-2133841