Covid-19 Second Wave
Rahul Gandhi tests positive for Covid-19
India's main opposition Congress party's leader Rahul Gandhi has contracted coronavirus. The 50-year-old is currently in home isolation in the national capital.
Gandhi, the scion of Nehru-Gandhi family, took to Twitter on Tuesday to inform his party members that he has tested positive for Covid-19.
Also read:India's Congress slams President Obama for calling Rahul ...
"After experiencing mild symptoms, I've just tested positive for Covid. All those who've been in contact with me recently, please follow all safety protocols and stay safe," he wrote.
Quoting unnamed sources, local media reported that fortunately Gandhi has not met his mother Sonia or sister Priyanka in the past one week.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media to wish Gandhi a speedy recovery. "I pray for the good health and quick recovery of Lok Sabha MP Shri Rahul Gandhi," he tweeted.
A day before, Gandhi's senior party colleague and former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tested positive for Covid-19. The 88-year-old is currently recuperating at the country's premier All India Institute of Medical Sciences.
"Dear Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji, Wishing you a speedy recovery. India needs your guidance and advice in this difficult time," Gandhi tweeted Monday.
Also read:Rahul Gandhi: Is this the end of the Gandhi dynasty?
Indian Health Minister Harsh Vardhan tweeted on Tuesday morning to say that the condition of the former Indian PM "is stable" and that he was being given the best possible care.
"Followed up on Dr Manmohan Singh Ji's health with the medical team attending to him at AIIMS, Delhi. His condition is stable. Best possible care is being provided to him. We all pray for his quick recovery," Harsh Vardhan tweeted.
Covid-19 in Bangladesh: Daily death toll falls, but it’s still 91
After recording over 100 daily Covid-19 deaths for four consecutive days, Bangladesh registered 91 more fatalities in 24 hours till Tuesday morning, showing a little bit of fall in the death toll.
Besides, 4,559 people got infected by the deadly virus during the period, said a handout of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Also read:No risk of contracting Covid-19 due to vaccination: DGHS
On Monday, the country had broken all the previous records of Covid-19 deaths registering 112 fatalities.
The latest figure pushed up the death tally to 10,588 with a mortality rate of 1.45 percent.
The fresh Covid-19 cases were reported after testing 27,056 samples. The infection rate dropped to 16.85 percent from 17.68 percent on Monday, the handout said.
Bangladesh reported its first coronavirus cases on March 8, 2020, while the first death on March 18 that year.
Health authorities have so far confirmed 727,780 cases. Among them, 628,111 people - 86.31 percent of all patients – have recovered.
The virus claimed 568 lives in January this year, 281 in February and 638 in March.
Lockdown
A ‘strict’ lockdown is underway across the country at the moment but people still seem apathetic towards health guidelines and safety rules.
The government has extended the ongoing lockdown by another week from April 22 in an effort to bring the situation under control.
Cause of concern
Concerns about the spread of more contagious and deadlier variants of the virus were raised by experts.
Research by the icddr,b has found that the South African variant accounted for 81 percent of the positive cases in Dhaka since the third week of March this year.
Covid-19: Bangladesh reports record 112 daily deaths
Bangladesh again broke all previous records of Covid-19 deaths registering 112 fatalities in a 24-hour period until Monday morning.
The country saw over 100 deaths for the fourth consecutive day.
The latest fatalities pushed up the death tally to 10,497 with a mortality rate of 1.45 percent, according to a handout from the Directorate General of Health Services.
Also read: Covid-19 vaccine not a 'silver bullet': WHO Besides, 4,271 new cases were reported during the period after testing 24,152 samples. The infection rate was 17.68 percent, down from 19.06 percent on Sunday.
On Sunday, 19,404 samples were tested. The number was 34,630 on April 7 when the country recorded its highest single-day cases of 7,626.
Bangladesh reported its first coronavirus cases on March 8, 2020, and the first death on March 18 that year.
Bangladesh braces for ‘another weeklong lockdown’
Bangladesh is likely to go under another weeklong lockdown right after the ongoing one as the Covid-19 situation keeps worsening in the country.
“The ongoing nationwide lockdown is likely to be extended for another week, and the decision in this regard will come within a day or two,” State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain told UNB on Sunday.
Also read:Bangladesh put under complete lockdown amid Covid spike
“We haven’t yet got any decision about a fresh lockdown. There’ll be a meeting on Monday over the current Covid-19 situation. But an advice is there over extending the ongoing lockdown,” the State Minister added.
“The decision will be known within 1-2 days as the coronavirus infections keep spreading. If people follow health guidelines properly and stay home, then the infection rate will come down,” he said.
Farhad Hossain said people should be more careful about Covid-19 as there is no alternative to awareness.
As the Covid-19 infections are surging, a decision on extending the ongoing lockdown may come, said some high officials at the Cabinet Division wishing anonymity.
Also read:Fresh lockdown in Bangladesh: Experts skeptical about ...
They said a meeting is scheduled to be held on Monday in this regard where the representatives of other ministries concerned will be present along with the members of the National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19.
Coronavirus claims eight more lives in Chattogram
Eight more people have died of complications from Covid-19 in the past 24 hours in Chattogram, health officials said on Friday.
Besides, 305 more people have been diagnosed with Covid-19, taking the overall cases to 46,380 in Chattogram.
With the fresh deaths, 445 people have so far died from the deadly virus, said the Civil Surgeon’s office.
Also read:Covid-19 vaccine not a 'silver bullet': WHO
Situation across the country
Bangladesh’s coronavirus fatalities surged past 10,000 mark on Thursday, nearly 13 months after the first death from the virus was reported.
With 94 deaths, two less than Wednesday's, the death tally rose to 10,081. The mortality rate went up to 1.43 percent from 1.42 percent, according to government data.
Bangladesh reported its first cases on March 8 last year and the first death was announced 10 days later.
Health authorities announced 4,192 new cases in a 24-hour period till Friday morning, according to a handout of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Bangladesh’s daily infection rate rose to 21 percent, up from 20.89 percent on Wednesday.
Coronavirus claimed 568 lives in January this year, 281 in February and 638 in March.
Covid-19 Vaccine
Also read:No risk of contracting Covid-19 due to vaccination: DGHS
The government launched a vaccination campaign on February 7 with doses received from the Serum Institute of India.
Experts are calling for ramping up the drive and urging people to follow the health guidelines to keep themselves and others around them safe.
On April 8, Bangladesh began its second phase of inoculation amid uncertainty over vaccine availability.
Covid-19 turns India into vaccine importer from exporter
Covid-19 can change the course of everything on its track. For instance, the pandemic has suddenly turned India into a Covid vaccine importer from a mass exporter.
For the second day in a row, India has reported over two lakh Covid cases -- the second country in the world to report such a high single-day figure. On January 8, the US-registered over three lakh cases.
Also read: Efforts underway to accelerate vaccine delivery to poorer nations
India, in fact, crossed the two lakh mark for the first time on Thursday. And on Friday, the country registered as many as 2,17,353 new cases and 1,185 deaths in 24 hours, taking the national case count and fatalities to 15,69,743 and 1,74,308, respectively.
But suddenly facing an acute shortage of jabs, India -- which has gifted and sold millions of Covid shots to neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh, and Africa through the World Health Organisation's COVAX initiative to date, is now turning to foreign vaccine producers.
Read J&J vaccine to remain in limbo while officials seek evidence
"India began vaccinating its people three months back, but the country is now facing a shortage of Covid jabs. So, the Indian government has decided to start importing vaccines from abroad to continue its mass inoculation drive," a senior government official told UNB.
"The first foreign consignment of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine will arrive in India this month-end. A domestic pharma giant, Dr Reddy's will supply the imported Sputnik vaccine doses in the domestic market," he added.
Also read: Covid-19 vaccine not a 'silver bullet': WHO
In fact, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi rolled out the world's largest Covid inoculation programme on January 16. Two 'Made in India' jabs, one developed by the Serum Institute in collaboration with AstraZeneca, and the other by Bharat Biotech, are being given.
India has so far given 11,72,23,509 vaccine doses to its citizens, according to the country's Health Ministry.
However, the vaccine shortage is such that the Indian Health Ministry said Thursday that the country's Drug Controller would process Covid jab import licence in three working days flat, post emergency-use approval.
Read Several U.S. states shut down Johnson & Johnson vaccine sites after adverse reactions reported
“Applications for restricted use in emergency situations for such vaccines may be accompanied by bridging trial protocol, application for import registration certificate and application for import license," the Ministry said in a statement.
"Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) will process applications for registration certificate and import license, within three working days from the date of approval of restricted use in emergency situations,” it added.
Also read: Canada pauses AstraZeneca vaccine for under 55
India's vaccine shortage may also hit inoculation programmes in poorer economies as WHO is, to a large extent, dependent on supplies from this country. India has exported nearly 65 million doses to foreign countries to date, as per the Indian Foreign Ministry data.
"India will now focus primarily on domestic supplies because the government believes that the countrymen can't suffer at the cost of exports. But no specific call has been taken on halting exports yet," said the official.
Read Funding for vaccine procurement earmarked in deals with WB, ADB: Dr Meerjady
Global Covid-19 cases approach 139 million
The overall number of global Covid cases is fast approaching the grim milestone of 139 million.
According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 138,858,768 while the death tally from the virus reached 2,984,626 on Friday morning.
The US has recorded 31,495,164 cases to date and more than 565,283 people have died so far from the virus in the country, as per the university data.
Also read:Coronavirus vaccines: How's my country and the rest of the ...
Brazil, which has been experiencing a new wave of Covid cases since January, has so far registered 13,746,681 cases and 365,444 deaths.
Besides, India’s total Covid cases have crossed 14 million, forcing the authorities concerned to enforce restrictions in many states from Wednesday.
India has so far registered 14,074,564 cases and 173,123 deaths from the virus, according to the government.
Situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh’s coronavirus fatalities surged past 10,000-mark on Thursday, nearly 13 months after the first death from the virus was reported.
With 94 deaths, two less than Wednesday's, the death tally rose to 10,081. The mortality rate went up to 1.43 percent from 1.42 percent, according to government data.
Bangladesh reported its first cases on March 8 last year and the first death was announced 10 days later.
Health authorities announced 4,192 new cases in a 24-hour period till Friday morning, according to a handout of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Also read:UN launches 'Only Together' campaign to support global ...
Bangladesh’s daily infection rate rose to 21 percent, up from 20.89 percent on Wednesday.
Coronavirus claimed 568 lives in January this year, 281 in February and 638 in March.
Covid-19 Vaccine
The government launched a vaccination campaign on February 7 with doses received from the Serum Institute of India.
Experts are calling for ramping up the drive and urging people to follow the health guidelines to keep themselves and others around them safe.
On April 8, Bangladesh began its second phase of inoculation amid uncertainty over vaccine availability.
160 million knocks for movement pass in 46 hours
The movement pass app launched by Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to facilitate emergency travel during the 8-day strict lockdown has received almost 160 million knocks/hits within just 46 hours.
Police have already issued around 316,801 passes so far.
Also read:Lockdown: 60000 people register for movement pass
Sources at the Police Headquarters have confirmed the matter to UNB.
Lockdown: 8 special parcel trains to operate from Wednesday
Bangladesh Railway will operate eight special parcel trains on different routes to transport agricultural goods and other products during the countrywide lockdown to prevent the transmission of Coronavirus.
Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujon in a press briefing said the parcel trains will operate alongside the other freight trains amid the lockdown to keep people’s life uninterrupted.
Also read: Dhaka-Chattogram freight train service suspended
Bangladesh is set to undergo a “strict lockdown” from April 14.
The Ministry has taken the decision for continuing the transportation of agricultural goods, he said adding that currently, Bangladesh Railway is transporting oil, fertilizers, and other goods.
Train on Dhaka-Sylhet route will start from Dhaka at 3:30 pm and the return train will leave Sylhet at 6:45 am the next day, on Chattogram-Sarishabari route train will leave Chattogram at 3 pm and the return train will leave Sarishabari at 5:30 am the next day.
On Saturday, Monday and Wednesday the train on Khulna-Chilahati route will start from Khulna at 3:30 pm and the return train will leave Chilahati at 3:30 pm on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.
Also read: Passenger train services to remain suspended during ..
Another train will be operated on Bir Muktijoddha Shirajul Islam to Dhaka route on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday
Follow lockdown restrictions: IGP to people
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed on Tuesday urged people to strictly follow the lockdown restrictions to contain the spread of coronavirus.
“We don’t want to see anyone on the roads and outside home except for emergency needs from April 14. Please follow the government rules spontaneously and we won’t be rude with anyone,” said the IGP while talking to reporters after inaugurating police movement pass apps in the city.
“We’ve to control the second wave of Covid-19 as we did last year, and for this we’ve to refrain from unnecessary movement. Last year, several thousand people had left Dhaka and now many people are leaving it for the last two days, which is unwise,” he said.
Benazir also urged people living in villages to stay home for the next seven days and follow the government’s directives to stem the spread of Covid-19.
Also read: Motivate people to follow govt's covid guidelines: IGP to police
Those who want to go outside should take the movement pass and return home as soon as possible, the IGP added.
He also emphasised the need for face-covering, social distancing, handwashing and raising public awareness to contain the virus spread.
“Already, 5,000 applications for movement pass have been submitted in just one hour and if anyone wants to go outside Dhaka, he or she will require to have the pass,” the police chief added.
There is no scope to allow more than one pass for one person.
Those eligible for movement pass
According to the Police Headquarters, the movement pass will be required to go out during lockdown in the case of emergency or official work such as getting Covid-19 vaccine jab, shopping from grocery shops, kitchen markets and medicine shops; having medical services, joining agricultural works, goods transportation, supply, relief materials supply, burial or cremation activities and other things under other categories.
Also read: Police to issue movement pass during lockdown
People can apply for a pass through movementpass.police.gov.bd from Wednesday (April 14) night. Conditional permission will be granted for a specified period of time.
How to apply for movement pass
One needs to visit this link, movementpass.police.gov.bd, and put his or her mobile phone number to have a one-time password in the mobile phone to go through the process to get the movement pass.
Necessary information
People should enter their names, gender, age, reasons for movement, scheduled date and time for movement, NID card, information about vehicles and image.
However, all are not allowed to have the movement pass. Only those who have emergency reasons for movement can apply for it.
The government is going to enforce a nationwide strict lockdown on Wednesday to curb the Coronavirus transmission. As the coronavirus situation is getting worse day by day.
On Monday, Bangladesh saw the highest number of daily deaths of 83 from Covid-19.