Bangladesh reports 400 plus confirmed cases per 1m: WHO

More than 400 people in every 1 million, on average, have been affected by Covid-19 across the country.

Within Dhaka division, Dhaka city had the highest attack rate of 2,489.4.

Apart from that, 21 districts including ten districts of Dhaka division reported 100 plus confirmed cases in every 1 million.

Among these districts, Narayanganj and Munshiganj reported the highest cases with 600 plus confirmed ones per 1 million, on average.

Seven districts had more than two hundred confirmed cases in every 1 million.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Bangladesh Covid-19 Situation Report-15, published yesterday, offered the insights.

The report presented official counts of confirmed Covid-19 cases as announced by the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) on June 8.

Up to then, there were 68,504 confirmed Covid-19 cases in Bangladesh, including 930 related deaths.

The overall Covid-19 attack rate – the total number of cases divided by the total population – in Bangladesh has been on a steady increase since 4 April, said the report. 

On June 8, the rate was 402.2 per 1 million. And 100 percent of all districts with the total population of 170,306,468 people confirmed Covid-19 cases.

At that time, 14,560 Covid-19 positive patients recovered.

The recovery rate stood at 21.3 percent while fatality from the disease was 1.36 percent.

Ten districts in Dhaka division, six in Chattogram, three in Mymensingh division, one each in Sylhet and Rangpur division had more than a hundred confirmed cases in 1 million, showed the report.

Within Dhaka division, the highest attack rate in Dhaka city was followed by Narayanganj district, 769.4, Munshiganj, 661.1, Gazipur, 298.5, Dhaka district, 262.5, Gopalganj, 227.2, Faridpur, 187.9, Madaripur, 162.5, Shariatpur, 114.9, Kishoreganj, 104.6, Manikganj, 101.4 and while the lowest, 12.9, was reported from Tangail district.

The second-highest Covid-19 attack rate of 214.3 in 1 million was reported from Chattogram division.

Within the division, Cox's Bazar reported the highest, 357.9, rate followed by Chattogram district, 345.8, Noakhali, 235.4, Cumilla, 189.3, Feni, 170.6, and Bandarban 106.7.

The third-highest rate in the country was reported from Mymensingh division – 101.9. 

Within the division, Jamalpur district had the highest, 112.9, rate followed by Netrokona, 104.3, Mymensingh, 102, and Sherpur 79.1.

Sylhet division reported an overall rate of 101 with the highest cases in Sylhet district – 166.5.

Rangpur division reported overall 61.1 confirmed cases with the highest rate in Rangpur district at 151.5.

Professor Muzaherul Huq, former adviser of the World Health Organisation's Southeast Asia region told the Business Standard, "The spike in infections and deaths from Covid-19 continues in Bangladesh. Now we need to detect each affected person now." 

"If an infected person remains undetected, the infection will continue to spread. The Covid-19 number that we are currently seeing is not the real one."

"When it comes to testing, we are falling behind all the South Asian countries except for Afghanistan. So testing should get the highest priority."

"The government initiative taken to divide different areas into zones is positive. It should have been implemented long ago. Although late, the government has stepped up to implement it."

"However, it is not yet clear what strategy the government will adopt to do this. It has now no other option other than zoning. So it is necessary to determine a strategy and system for its implementation."