Doctors fear for the worse as people ignore safety measures

The number of infections and deaths from the coronavirus has been increasing recently in Bangladesh. The situation might worsen as people have not been following safety measures since the vaccination started, said health experts.

Doctors say they are also seeing more and more young and healthy people getting infected.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 1,159 new Covid-19 cases were reported in the last 24 hours till Sunday 8am, which was the highest number of daily infections in the last two and a half months. The infection rate was 7.15 % of the total tests.

The infection rate had been below 5% for about two months, but started to rise again in March.

The DGHS also confirmed 18 more deaths from the dreaded virus during the last 24 hours.

At present, most of the new Covid-19 patients are young people, said Professor Dr ABM Khurshid Alam, director general of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

"Currently most of the Covid-19 patients need ICU support. Earlier we saw that those who have comorbidity were more affected by the virus, but now we see that young and healthy people are being affected too," said Professor Dr ABM Khurshid Alam at a workshop at the 250-bed TB Hospital, Shyamoli in the capital on Sunday.

"I have not received any request for an ICU bed in the last two months. But for the last few days I have been getting some phone calls every day informing me that the ICU beds are not available. Since we were at ease in the last two months, we are not following any hygiene rules now. The country is in danger if the health rules are neglected," he added.

According to the data obtained from the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research on Sunday, more than 50% of Covid-19 infected patients in the country are aged between 21 to 40 years of old.

However, 65% of the patients who died from the virus in the country are older than 50 years.

Dr Nusrat Sultana, assistant professor at Department of Virology in Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, told The Business Standard, "Most of the people who are walking around without following any hygiene rules, not wearing masks or wearing them incorrectly are aged between 15-45 years."

She said younger people who are travelling carelessly may be suffering from asymptomatic Covid-19 or mild symptoms of it. So, they are not testing. Through them, the coronavirus is infecting older and comorbid members of the family and increasing the risk of death.

Dr Nusrat Sultana opined that currently the infection rate is increasing, but the death rate will also increase after one month, because some of the infected patients will die in 15-20 days.

"If the young generation does not follow the rules of hygiene to prevent Covid-19 infection, we will move towards a terrible future. Everyone must wear a mask properly and follow hygiene rules," said Dr Nusrat Sultana.

She also advised against wearing two masks together, because the virus may accumulate between the two masks.

Dr M Mushtuq Husain, consultant of the Covid-19 Pandemic Control at the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research, told TBS, "People's tendency to follow hygiene rules has declined a lot since the vaccination started. Now there are so many social and political events, but people do not wear masks or maintain social distance at these events. As a result, infections are increasing alarmingly."

"The situation was good as strict measures were taken to prevent infection in winter. The situation will be dire if we do not take strict action again, because the second wave is more terrible than the first wave. Now people need to wear masks, comply with hygiene rules. We also need to vaccinate more people quickly," he added.

Number of coronavirus cases in the country currently stands at 557,395 and death toll 8,545.

Measures for countering the rise in infection

DGHS Director General Professor Dr ABM Khurshid Alam said all hospitals in the country have been instructed to be ready to deal with the spread of the virus. They have also sent letters to the civil surgeon's offices in this regard.

"We had a meeting with the directors of all the hospitals in Dhaka and divisional hospitals across the country. We have heard about their advantages and disadvantages and made arrangements based on that. I told them to prepare all the beds they have and be ready for management of the Covid-19 patients," said Dr ABM Khurshid Alam.

The director general of the DGHS also said the local administration has already been instructed through the public administration ministry to strengthen compliance with the health rules.

Govt urges administrations to ensure mask usage

The government urged local administrations across the country to ensure mask usage as Covid-19 infection rate is increasing in the country.

On Saturday Cabinet Division issued a notice in this regard.

"Covid-19 infection rates and mortality rates have increased slightly over the past few months. In order to prevent the rate of infection, it is necessary to ensure the observance of hygiene including wearing of masks everywhere," the notice read.

The issued notice was distributed among all divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners and upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs).