Eighty-eight per cent of the total Covid-19 patients of the country were infected with Omicron variant while 12 per cent with Delta during June 29, 2021 to February 9, 2022, says a study. Supervisor of the Genome Sequencing Research Project Professor Dr Md Sharfuddin Ahmed, Vice Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), on Thursday revealed the findings of an ongoing study at a press briefing. Nasopharyngeal samples of total 937 patients from each division of the country were collected as representative samples for genome sequencing during the period. Also read: 80% Covid patients in Bangladesh of Delta variant: BSMMU survey  According to the survey findings, most of the patients were aged between 30 to 59 years, and children were also infected with the coronavirus, he said. Of the infected patients, 51 percent were women and 49 per cent men. Covid-19 patients with comorbidities like cancer, respiratory disease, heart disease and diabetes showed more severe symptoms. Patients aged above 60 are more likely to die if contracted with the virus for the second time, the study shows. The genome sequencing analysis of samples of Covif-19 patients in July, 2021, showed 98 per cent were infected with Indian Delta variant, one per cent with South African variant or Beta variant while another one per cent with Mauritius or Nigerian variant. However, the samples collected from August, 2021 to first week of December, 2021 showed 99.31 per cent were infected with the Delta variant. 80 per cent of the total Covid-19 patients in the country were infected with Delta variant while 20 per cent with Omicron during December 8, 2021-January 8, 2022, said data from the same study revealed on January 18, this year. Also read: 75% of target population fully vaccinated : Health Minister The results revealed today were from the findings of seven months and 15 days. The ongoing research of the BSMMU team aims to create a Covid-19 genome database of Bangladesh, revealing its characteristics, mutation types and its interrelation with the global Covid-19 genome data. Prof Sharfuddin Ahmed said they are hopeful of updating the results of the coming weeks soon. The survey is being conducted by a BSMMU team, led by Dr Laila Anjuman Banu, a professor of Genetics and Molecular Biology and chair of the Department of Anatomy, collecting samples of patients across the country, he said.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has shortened the isolation period for Covid-infected patients to 10 days from 14 days. “If the body temperature remains at a low level and symptoms go away, one can return to his or her respective work after 10 days,” said Dr Md Nazmul Islam, the DGHS spokesperson and Line Director (Disease Control), on Sunday at a virtual health briefing. He said the previous condition of having RT-PCR test results to return to offices and workstations in this regard would remain suspended for now. Also read: Booster doses to be available for citizens above 40: Minister Regarding the Covid surge, Dr Nazmul said, “Until December last year, the Delta variant of Covid was dominant in the country but the number of total patients and percentage of infection were low. We have seen a continuous rise in infections within a few days from the end of December to the beginning of January. So, there is no scope to take the new variant lightly.” The DGHS spokesperson said there is no room to be complacent as the number of deaths, which was three or four till December, has now increased several times to 20 or 25 deaths a day. However, the vaccination campaign has been accelerated in Bangladesh along with the increase in the infection rate. Those who have already received a message for booster dose but could not get the jab for getting infected can receive it after the six weeks of recovery, Dr Nazmul said. Also read: Covid in Bangladesh: Daily deaths sharply rise to 34 Earlier in the day, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said people above 40 years will be eligible to take Covid booster shots as the government has lowered the minimum age limit for it. “We’ve nine crores of Covid vaccine doses in hand. The government has lowered the age limit for receiving Covid booster shots to 40 from 50. Some people have taken booster shots. So, the government has decided to lower the age limit to 40,” he said.

The UN health agency has recommended two new drugs for Covid patients. The drug Baricitinib, also known as a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor and used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, has been strongly recommended for patients with severe or critical covid-19 in combination with corticosteroids. The World Health Organization (WHO) Guideline Development Group of international experts gave the advice in the British Medical Journal Thursday. Also read:Moderna jab will be given as booster doses: DGHS Their recommendation is based on moderate certainty evidence that it improves survival and reduces the need for ventilation, with no observed increase in adverse effects. The WHO experts note that Baricitinib has similar effects to other arthritis drugs called interleukin-6 (IL-6) inhibitors so, when both are available, they suggest choosing one based on cost, availability, and clinician experience. It is not recommended to use both drugs at the same time. However, the experts advise against the use of two other JAK inhibitors (ruxolitinib and tofacitinib) for patients with severe or critical Covid-19 because low certainty evidence from small trials failed to show benefit and suggests a possible increase in serious side effects with tofacitinib. Also read: Anti-Covid pill likely to get approved in India soon, DCGI reviewing data In the same guideline update, the WHO also makes a conditional recommendation for the use of the monoclonal antibody Sotrovimab in patients with non-severe Covid-19, but only in those at highest risk of hospitalisation, reflecting trivial benefits in those at lower risk. The experts also note that there was insufficient data to recommend one monoclonal antibody treatment over another.  And they acknowledge that their effectiveness against new variants like omicron is still uncertain. They say guidelines for monoclonal antibodies will be updated when additional data become available. Today's recommendations are based on new evidence from seven trials involving over 4,000 patients with non-severe, severe, and critical Covid-19 infection. They are part of a living guideline, developed by the WHO with the methodological support of MAGIC Evidence Ecosystem Foundation, to provide trustworthy guidance on the management of Covid-19 and help doctors make better decisions with their patients. Living guidelines are useful in fast-moving research areas like covid-19 because they allow researchers to update previously vetted and peer-reviewed evidence summaries as new information becomes available. To make their recommendations, the panel considered a combination of evidence assessing relative benefits and harms, values and preferences, and feasibility issues. Today's guidance adds to previous recommendations for the use of interleukin-6 receptor blockers and systemic corticosteroids for patients with severe or critical Covid-19; conditional recommendations for the use of casirivimab-imdevimab (another monoclonal antibody treatment) in selected patients; and against the use of convalescent plasma, ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine in patients with covid-19 regardless of disease severity.

Sylhet division has logged 13 new Covid-related deaths in 24 hours till Sunday morning, as the ruthless Delta variant of coronavirus continues its spread across the country. Of the total deaths, 12 were reported in Sylhet district alone, said Dr Himangshu Lal Roy, director (health) of Sylhet. Read: Gasping for breath Sylhet woman dies in ambulance after futile search for an ICU bed During this period, some 460 people found positive for Covid after testing 1,722 samples. The positivity rate currently stands at 26.71%. With the fresh figures, the total fatalities and cases in the division now stand at 897 and 48,912, respectively. Moreover, 36,646 people have recovered to date. Read: Sylhet div logs 22 deaths in single day Besides, 36 people have been admitted to the corona unit of Sylhet Osmani Medical College and Hospital in the past 24 hours. Currently, 577 Covid patients are undergoing treatment at different hospitals in Sylhet division.

Barishal division has logged 14 new Covid deaths in the past 24 hours, health officials said on Sunday morning. Of the deceased, five were confirmed Covid patients while the remaining six showed symptoms of the virus. Read: Covid: Barishal sees 11 more deaths Among them, 10 died at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH), the officials said. Divisional Health Director Dr Basudev Kumar Das said that 595 patients have died of Covid-19 in the division so far. Besides, 393 people have tested positive for Covid in Barishal division in the past 24 hours, he said. Read: Barishal logs 21 fresh Covid deaths Some 41,155 active Covid patients have been identified in the division to date, according to the officials. Moreover, 166 Covid patients are currently undergoing treatment at the corona unit of SBMCH.

Barishal division has logged 14 new Covid deaths in the past 24 hours, health officials said on Friday morning. Of the deceased, nine had tested positive for Covid-19 while the remaining five showed symptoms of the virus infection. Read: Barishal logs 13 fresh Covid deaths Six of them died at Sher-E-Bangla Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH), while the others in different hospitals, the officials said. Divisional Health Director Dr Basudev Kumar Das said that 585 patients have died of Covid-19 in the division so far. Besides, 473 people have tested positive for Covid in Barishal division in the past 24 hours and of them, 221 are from Barishal district alone. So far, 16,670 people have been infected in the district. Some 40,592 active Covid patients have been identified in the division to date, according to the officials. Currently, 194 Covid patients are undergoing treatment at the 300-bed Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital. Read:Barishal logs 21 fresh Covid deaths Meanwhile, 19 new Covid patients have been admitted to the hospital’s Covid unit in the past 24 hours, the officials said. So far, 158 people have died of Covid-19 and 888 with symptoms at the hospital. On the other hand, 23,282 people have recovered from Covid in the division to date.

Barishal division has logged 13 new Covid deaths in the past 24 hours, health officials said on Wednesday morning. Of the deceased, six had tested positive for Covid-19 while the remaining seven showed symptoms of the virus infection. Read:Covid: 10 more people die in Rajshahi Ten of them died at Sher-E-Bangla Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH) while the others died in different hospitals, the officials said. Divisional Health Director Dr Basudev Kumar Das said that 569 patients have died of Covid-19 so far in the division. Besides, 389 people have tested positive for Covid in Barishal division in the past 24 hours. Of them, 152 are from Barishal district alone. So far, 16,323 people have been infected in the district. Read:Covid-19: Vaccination campaign begins at Rohingya camps On the other hand, some 39,742 active Covid patients have been identified in the division to date, the officials said. According to SBMCH authorities, 210 Covid patients are currently undergoing treatment at SBMCH and of them, 64 are confirmed cases.

Barishal division has logged 21 new Covid deaths in the past 24 hours, health officials said on Monday morning. Of the deceased, six tested positive for Covid-19 while the remaining 15 showed symptoms of the virus infection. Read:Covid: Barishal division logs 20 more deaths Fifteen of them died at Sher-E-Bangla Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH) while the others in different hospitals, the officials said. Divisional Health Director Dr Basudev Kumar Das said that 553 patients have died of Covid-19 so far in the division. Besides, 388 people have tested positive for Covid in Barishal division in the past 24 hours and of them, 83 alone are from Barishal district. So far, 15,866 people have been infected in the district. Some 38,684 active Covid patients have been identified in the division to date, according to the officials. Read:Barishal sanctions separate Covid unit for pregnant women According to SBMCH authorities, 27 more patients have been admitted to the hospital in 24 hours till Monday morning. Moreover, 73 Covid patients are currently undergoing treatment at the corona unit of SBMCH and 154 in the isolation ward of the hospital.

Seventeen more Covid patients have died at Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH) in the past 24 hours, health officials said on Thursday morning. Six of them died of Covid-19, while eight died with symptoms of the virus and the remaining three due to post-corona complications, said hospital director Brigadier General Shamim Yazdani. Read:19 more die of Covid at Rajshahi hospital Of the deceased, five were from Rajshahi district, four from Natore, three each from Chapainawabganj and Pabna, and one each from Naogaon and Kushtia districts. Besides, 39 people have been admitted to the corona unit of the hospital in the past 24 hours. On the other hand, some 36 people were discharged from the hospital after recovery during the period. Currently, 391 patients are undergoing treatment at the hospital which has 513 beds. Of them, 20 are being treated in the ICU, said the hospital director. Read:22 die of Covid at Rajshahi hospital in 24 hours Of the admitted patients, 188 have tested positive for Covid-19, while 126 are with symptoms and 77 have post-Covid health complications. RMCH has been one of the most stretched hospitals in the country during the second wave of Covid-19, particularly since the latter part of May when the deadly Delta variant was identified in multiple samples in Rajshahi division. 

Barishal division has logged as many as 16 new Covid deaths in the past 24 hours, health officials said on Wednesday morning. Of the deceased, six were confirmed Covid patients while the remaining showed symptoms of the virus. Read: Barishal division logs record 31 Covid deaths in a day All of them died at Sher-E-Bangla Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH), the officials said. Divisional Health Director Dr Basudev Kumar Das said that 500 patients have died of Covid-19 in the division so far. Besides, 773 people have tested positive for Covid in Barishal division in the past 24 hours. Read: Barishal division sees 20 more Covid deaths Of the fresh Covid cases in the division, 337 have been identified in Barisal district alone. Some 36,140 active Covid patients have been identified in the division to date, according to the officials. Read:Barishal division logs 854 new Covid cases According to SBMCH authorities, 53 more patients have been admitted to the hospital in 24 hours till Wednesday morning. Moreover, 349 Covid patients are currently undergoing treatment at the corona unit of SBMCH.