coronavirus in bangladesh
Nat’l committee for stopping Ekushey Book Fair as Covid cases surge
The National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19 has recommended to stop the ongoing Amar Ekushey Book Fair as the country is seeing a massive jump in daily cases.
It has also proposed to halt all types of social events and shut other recreational centres to curb the spread of coronavirus.
At its meeting, the committee also recommended increasing ICU and Covid-19 ward beds at Dhaka hospitals to deal with the increasing stream of patients.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh records highest-ever daily cases, 59 deaths
It welcomed the 18-point directive issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and emphasised formulating a specific action plan in this regard.
Boi Mela hours curtailed
The surge in coronavirus cases forced the Book Fair management to cut short the daily operational hours.
Also read: Boi Mela to be open for 3.5 hours a day due to COVID-19
Currently, the fair remains open from 3pm to 6:30pm daily.
Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh recorded its highest daily coronavirus cases on Thursday when the health authorities confirmed 6,469 new infections in the last 24 hours.
Also read: Restriction on gatherings, quarantine rule among PMO’s 18-point directive to contain Covid surge
The infection rate also jumped to 22.94 percent from 19.9 percent on Wednesday.
Covid-19: BCB postpones NCL after round 2
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Thursday decided to postpone the ongoing Bangabandhu National Cricket League (NCL), taking stock of the Covid-19 situation in the country.
Due to the recent surge in Covid-19 infections and fatalities, the BCB had decided to host NCL in only two venues – Cox's Bazar and BKSP.
But the Cox's Bazar authority imposed different restrictions including on the use of public transport. So, the board opted to postpone the league after the end of the two rounds.
Also read: NCL: Rajshahi pull off record win
"It's a precautionary step, and a temporary move," BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury told the media on Thursday. "NCL is a first-class event and eight teams are contesting in this league in more than one venue. So the things are more challenging here."
Nizamuddin also said the league would be resumed as soon as possible. He, however, did not mention any estimated time frame.
Also read: Zakir, Nazmul best performers of NCL 1st round
At least seven cricketers including Mohammad Ashraful, Alok Kapali, Shadman Islam and Akbar Ali tested positive for Covid-19 since the start of the league.
Bus fare raises by 60% for maintaining social distance
The number of Coronavirus infections and deaths in Bangladesh has been rising at an alarming pace in recent weeks. The Bangladesh government released a notification on March 29 (Monday) with 18-point directives to curb the covid-19 infection.
The guidelines stipulate that all forms of public events, including social, political, and religious gatherings, be restricted, as well as public gatherings in highly infected areas are also being prohibited. Furthermore, according to the notification guidelines, public transports are only permitted to carry 50% of its total capacity. To make things work, bus fare has raised by 60% for maintaining social distance.
The main reason for the government's decision to raise bus fare
To ensure social distancing, the government has ordered that passenger movement on public transportation be limited.
On the other hand, inter-district bus services have been instructed to be stopped if necessary. Coronavirus infection can be prevented by limiting people's movement in public places. This would lower the rate of infection and the number of people who die as a result of it across the country.
The government's decision to raise bus fare is primarily motivated by this. Meanwhile, the bus owners' association requested a 60% rise in per-person fare, citing the directive's obligation to transport half of the capacity. In response to their requests, the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges accepted a proposal to raise bus fare by 60%, which will remain in effect from March 31 for two weeks (Wednesday).
Read Prices in kitchen markets on the up ahead of Ramadan
However, Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader advised the transport owners to take the required measures to ensure that passengers adhere to the hygiene laws, such as wearing masks and using hand sanitizers.
Public opinions in regards to the increase of bus fare
Due to the low cost of travel, the city's local bus services are the primary mode of transportation for daily workers to reach their workplace in the capital. But the sudden rise in bus fare has exacerbated the plight of low-income people.
Furthermore, people are unable to arrive at their destination on time due to a shortage of transportation. Despite this, the public has backed the government's decision to fight the pandemic. “This is a good move. Since saving lives costs a lot of money given the current condition of the coronavirus, we should accept the government's decision,” A student said while traveling the BRTC bus in Gulistan on Wednesday. “This is a good initiative. If we only consider money, this decision would bring us difficulties.
However, it is important that everyone follow the hygiene rules at this moment,” A jobholder reflected on the government's decision. Meanwhile, when speaking with long-distance travelers, there was a mixed reaction. Some bus companies are collecting nearly double the fare by taking advantage of the government's notice. However, reputable bus services have raised fares by 60% in compliance with government instructions and have also installed hand sanitizers in accordance with hygiene guidelines.
Law enforcement authorities must constantly monitor bus service providers' activities in order to fully execute the government's decision. Apart from that, everybody, including the general public and transport companies, needs to be more sincere.
The potential effects of the coronavirus in Bangladesh in the summer
Although the coronavirus outbreak in Bangladesh has recently risen, experts predict that the number of covid-19 patients will not increase massively in the coming summer. Because people have begun to develop antibodies.
According to a report, approximately 74 percent of slum dwellers had antibodies. Furthermore, if vaccine activities continue, the effect of the coronavirus outbreak in Bangladesh will gradually decline. Besides that, if passenger movement in public transportation can be controlled for a period of time, the coronavirus infection could be controlled more effectively. Once the national vaccination campaign is finished, the situation is expected to improve even further.
Despite the fear of a covid-19 pandemic, if the expert's predictions come true, the general public will at least feel some relief in public transportation this summer.
Bottom Line
The government has taken some important decisions as a precautionary measure for two weeks as the covid-19 situation in Bangladesh has unexpectedly worsened.
Coronavirus infections can be controlled by maintaining social distance and adhering to health laws, according to experts. In this case, low-income people have suffered financially. However, the majority of the population has welcomed the government's decision to raise the bus fare by 60% for maintaining social distance because it is in the country's best interests.
Read Covid surge in Bangladesh: Experts for tightening the grip with nighttime curfew
No alternative to increasing hospital capacity: Health Minister
Health Minister Zahid Maleque has said that there is no alternative to increasing the capacities of hospitals to tackle the surge in Covid-19 cases.
“There’s no alternative to increasing the number of hospital beds as Covid cases are increasing day by day. That’s why the government is increasing the number of beds at all covid-dedicated hospitals,” he said while inaugurating 10 ICU beds at Dhaka Medical College Hospital at an online event.
He said the number of covid-designated hospitals are also being increased.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh records highest-ever daily cases, 59 deaths
Minister Maleque said that a market of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has been turned into a Covid-dedicated hospital with 1,250-bed capacity.
“There are 50 ICU beds and 200 SDO beds,” he said. “It also has 1,000 isolation beds.”
Maleque said the number of covid beds is being increased at government hospitals in the capital.
Also read: Avoid public gatherings, wear masks to fight Covid surge, PM urges all
In this regard, the minister said that 10 more ICU beds have been added to Dhaka Medical College Hospital today.
Tackling Covid-19: Ambassador Miller lauds epidemiologists, public health experts
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller on Wednesday praised the epidemiologists and public health experts who continue to serve as Bangladesh’s frontline of defense to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The pandemic has taught us many things. One of those things is policy and actions are only as effective as the science and data they are built upon,” he said.
Miller said they can promote mask wearing and social distancing because they know the science and data tells them it works.
“We can promote vaccination because the data from the vaccine trials and post vaccination surveillance tells us the vaccines are safe and effective. None of this is possible without epidemiologists and public health experts,” he said.
The US Ambassador inaugurated the first “Bangladesh Congress on Epidemiology and Public Health” and the two-day conference (Wednesday-Thursday) includes in-person and online sessions sharing experiences and scientific lessons from Bangladesh about COVID-19; establishing a global network of public health experts to apply COVID-19 lessons to prepare for future pandemics and outbreaks; and building support for expanding the number of epidemiologists and public health experts in Bangladesh.
Also read: Will work together with Bangladesh, global partners against Covid-19 pandemic: Miller
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is partnering with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), and the Epidemiology Association of Bangladesh to sponsor this first-ever national conference focused on the vital roles field epidemiology and public health play in saving lives and keeping people healthy from serious diseases in Bangladesh and across the world during the COVID-19 pandemic.
No motorcycle ride-sharing from Thursday
Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has imposed a ban on operating app-based motorcycle ride-sharing services amid a recent surge in Covid-19 infections and fatalities. The ban will be effective for two weeks until further notice, it said.
BRTA issued a circular in this connection on Wednesday (March 31, 2021) and sent the directives to the service providers.
Also, the government on Wednesday raised the fares of all buses across the country by 60% as no public transport would be allowed to carry more than 50% of their capacity.
Also read: Bangladesh reports record number of 5,358 new daily Covid cases; 52 deaths
The Prime Minister's Office on Monday issued an 18-point directive for the next two weeks to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Bangladesh.
The ministry proposed partial lockdowns for some places with higher Covid-19 transmission rate, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said on the same day.
Bangladesh recorded 52 Covid-19 deaths in the last 24 hours until Wednesday, the highest single-day death toll in seven months.
Also read: Best Ride Sharing Apps in Bangladesh
Besides, the country's health authorities recorded over 5,000 fresh cases for the third straight day.
The latest figures showed 5,358 new cases in the past 24 hours, which pushed the caseload to 611,295, according to the Directorate General of Health Services.
This is the highest daily infection since the pandemic began.
Read How to Use Ridesharing Vehicles Safely during COVID19 Pandemic
Covid-19 Second Wave: Maleque seeks further steps against transmission
Health Minister Zahid Maleque has said that Dhaka North City Corporation kitchen market in Mohakhali will be turned into a makeshift hospital dedicated for novel coronavirus patients.
“It will have around 50 ICU beds and above 1000 Covid patients can be tretated at the hospital,” said the minister.
Moreover, three specialized public hospitals -National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases and National Institute of Kidney Diseases and Urology, will also open units dedicated for coronavirus patients with 100 beds each.
Also read: Bangladesh reports record number of 5,358 new daily Covid cases; 52 deaths
He came up with this information while talking to the reporters at a a meeting with the owners of private hospitals this evening.
Zahid Maleque reaffirmed that the ministry is doing everything in its power to curb the ‘dramatic’ rise in Covid-19 cases.
“Additional 2500 bed will be increased in the hospitals of the capital to treat Covid-19 patients within a very short time. Moreover, central oxygen line has been provided to 90 hospitals,” he said.
Also read: Don’t be panicked about possible second wave of Covid-19: Minister
The minister also urged people to consider Covid hospitals adjacent to Dhaka city to reduce pressure on the capitals’ hospitals.
“There are similar medical facilities in Gazipur, Manikganj and some other districts around Dhaka. Patients can be admitted to those hospitals,” he said.
The minister said that if the authorities fail to do anything about the source of the massive spread of Covid-19 cases, then it would be impossible to bring the situation under control even if they turn the entire Dhaka city into hospitals.
Also read: Vaccine drive to continue with AstraZeneca shot: Health Secretary
“People are visiting tourist destinations, attending weddings and social events without maintaining any health guidelnes. If this continues, then it will not be possible to curb the spread of Covid-19.”
The minister said the steps taken by the health authorities were effective in restricting Covid-19 in Bangladesh which resulted in lower cases in February. But people became lethargic afterwards, which was the main reason for increase in coronavirus cases.
The minister expressed his concern by saying if the situation goes beond the authorities control, then it would be very difficult to bring life back to normal.
No uncertainty over receiving vaccine doses: Finance Minister
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has ruled out any uncertainty over receiving vaccine doses from the Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd.
“We’ve already paid for the vaccine. So... we’ll get it,” he told reporters while briefing virtually on the Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase on Wednesday.
Also read: Vaccine drive to continue with AstraZeneca shot: Health Secretary
He informed that the second dose of vaccine will be administered in time.
He also said that the health minister had also attended the purchase body meeting and did not express any apprehension over uncertainty about receiving the vaccine doses.
Also read: Virus variants, vaccine inequity responsible for rising Covid caseload: WHO
Mustafa Kamal also turned down the idea of going for lockdown to contain coronavirus transmission. He said there will be no need for any such measures as the vaccination programme has been continuing.
“Once vaccination is completed, the situation will improve,” he said. “The countries, which are running the vaccination programme, are witnessing a fall in infection.”
Also read: Modi to bring 12 lakh more vaccine doses as gift for Bangladesh
Responding to a question on World Bank’s economic growth projection at 3.6 percent, the Finance Minister said the donor agency makes such projection on quarterly basis and the government does it annually.
No step in sight to tackle Covid transmission: BNP
Though the coronavirus transmission has been surging alarmingly in the country, the government has no visible steps to contain the pace of outbreak of the deadly virus, BNP alleged on Tuesday.
“Corona infection is growing alarmingly. We saw an 18-point directive was issued yesterday (Monday), but the government has not taken any visible step to implement it,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
He made the remarks while speaking at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office.
The BNP leader said there is a false campaign that the government is effectively tackling the Covid situation. “The fact is that they (govt) can’t control the virus, but they’re lying. The government should have a strong campaign and effective steps to enforce the 18-point directive, but it's missing.”
He accused the government of hiding the facts and data about the real Covid situation in the country and not conducting adequate tests to quickly identify the infected people.
“People are not getting adequate opportunities to undergo tests not only in Dhaka, but also elsewhere in Bangladesh. The government is fully responsible for this situation. They never realised the importance of creating a national unity to overcome the pandemic,” he observed.
Stating that using masks is essential to prevent the virus outbreak, the BNP leader said people are showing apathy to it as the government has failed to motivate them and create awareness among them in this regard through a mass campaign.
He said the government did not suspend different state programmes relating to the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Independence and the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman though the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) had warned of deterioration in Covid situation.
Fakhrul alleged that the government is not taking proper steps to get rid of the corona outbreak as it is not accountable to people. “This government is not elected by people’s votes. An unelected government can’t have any responsibility towards people.”
He said the government’s main target is now to ‘hang onto’ power by any means and ‘plunder’ public money.
Covid-19: Bangladesh records 5000+ cases for 2nd consecutive day
Bangladesh on Tuesday recorded over 5,000 new coronavirus cases for the second straight day, signalling a tough fight ahead for the country as people are still reluctant about following basic health guidelines.
With 5,042 new cases in a 24-hour period until morning, the caseload rose to 605,937, according to a handout of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Meanwhile, the coronavirus fatalities climbed to 8,994 with 45 more deaths recorded until morning.
Bangladesh reported its first coronavirus cases on March 8 last year and the first death on the 18th of that month.
The DGHS said the infection rate jumped to 18.94 percent from 18.38 percent on Monday when Bangladesh recorded its highest-ever single day case count (5,181).
During the 24-hour period, 2,162 coronavirus patients recovered, taking the total number of recovered patients to 540,180.
The government has ramped up testing, intensified vaccination campaign and efforts to ensure that the people properly follow health guidelines and hygiene rules.
So far, 4,643,645 samples have been tested – including 26,620 in the last 24 hours, the DGHS said.
Dhaka sees highest Covid deaths
The mortality rate slipped slightly to 1.48 percent on Tuesday.
Among the deceased, 37 people died in Dhaka division, three in Chattogram, two in Rajshahi, two in Khulna and one in Sylhet.
So far, 5,118 coronavirus patients died in Dhaka division, 1,631 in Chattogram, 501 in Rajshahi, 579 in Khulna, 273 in Barishal, 318 in Sylhet, 373 in Rangpur and 201 in Mymensingh.