Drop in infection rate: A week will tell if it is a new hope | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Thursday
July 24, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2025
Drop in infection rate: A week will tell if it is a new hope

Covid-19 in Bangladesh

Tawsia Tajmim
12 September, 2020, 11:00 am
Last modified: 12 September, 2020, 01:11 pm

Related News

  • Covid: One dead, eight more infected
  • New Covid-19 variant in town: Are we ready to fight the old enemy in a new guise?
  • Triple threat: Dengue, Covid cases surge as chikungunya reemerges
  • Covid-19: 2 more deaths, 4 new cases reported in 24hrs
  • Special health guidelines issued for HSC exams amid covid-19, dengue surge

Drop in infection rate: A week will tell if it is a new hope

Experts say if the daily infection rate continues to remain below 15% in the next week, it can be assumed that Covid-19 infection has slowed down in the country

Tawsia Tajmim
12 September, 2020, 11:00 am
Last modified: 12 September, 2020, 01:11 pm

Highlights: 

  • Covid-19 positivity rate was 12.15% on September 11 (Lowest since 11.64% reported on May 9) 
  • Highest daily infection rate was 31.91% on August 3 
  • If infection rate falls below 10% it can be assumed that the situation is improving
  • If infection rate goes below 5% it can be assumed that the infection is under control

The Covid-19 positivity rate in the country stood at 12.15% on Friday – the 188th day since the first cases were reported here on March 8 this year.

This was also the lowest rate of infection in the past 122 days.

The positivity rate – the percentage of tests that return positive – has been on a downward trend for the past three weeks.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

Experts have said if the daily infection rate continues to remain below 15% in the next week, it will then become clear that the Covid-19 infection has slowed down in the country.

Bangladesh has spent six months of the Covid-19 outbreak with 3,34,762 confirmed cases and 4,668 deaths so far, according to the Directorate General of Health Services.

The DGHS on Friday said 14,747 samples had been tested in the previous 24 hours, of which 1,792 came back positive. The positivity rate was 12.15% on the day.

This was the lowest daily infection rate since May 9, when 11.64% of the samples tested positive in the previous 24 hours.

Bangladesh's Covid-19 positivity rate had been hovering between 20% and 25% from June to August. The highest daily infection rate in the country was reported at 31.91% on August 3.

The positivity rate came down to below 20% on August 20 and has remained below 15% since September 6.

Dr M Mushtuq Husain, Covid-19 pandemic control consultant at the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), told The Business Standard that if the daily infection rate remains below 15% for the next week, then it can be assumed that infections are decreasing.

"If the infection rate falls below 10% we can say the situation is improving. And if the infection rate comes further down below 5% we can say the infection is under control," he added.

Dr Mushtuq went on to say that a 10% positivity rate indicates a higher rate of infection and community transmission.

"If the infection rate remains around 10% for 3-4 weeks, then we can say that the optimum number of tests is being done. And if the rate starts to go below 10%, then it can be said that the Covid-19 infection is slowing down."

Asked if the fall in reported cases has been a result of low testing, he said, "If the testing is low there will be a rise in the infection rate. But if the infection rate is at the same level, then it should be understood that testing is not very low."

The number of daily tests has been between 10,000 and 15,000 for nearly two months.

However, it is not only suspected patients who are getting tested now. As hospitals have begun their operations in full swing for non-Covid patients at a time when coronavirus prevalence is high in the community, complicated medical procedures, e.g. C-sections, surgeries and kidney dialysis, require patients to get a prior Covid-19 test report.

In this regard, Mushtaq Hossain said asymptomatic tests are increasing the negativity rate, but not by too much.

"There is no alternative to identification, isolation and quarantine of patients to further reduce the infection rate.

"Public health campaigns must be run. In all cases, the community needs to be involved and empowered. In the early stages, people could be instructed when they were scared, but now after six months, the government has to work intensively. By mobilizing the people and involving local public representatives, a sustainable result can be obtained," said Dr M Mushtuq Husain.

Referring to the declining infection rate reported over the past few weeks, Professor Nazrul Islam, a noted virologist and former vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, said one more week of observation can tell if the infection is decreasing.

"If the infection rate is below 5%, all schools and colleges can be reopened. However, there is no alternative to wearing facemasks because a vaccine for the new coronavirus is not coming soon. The general population might get the vaccine by the end of next year," he said.

Top News

Covid -19 / Covid -19 in Bangladesh / Coronavirus in Bangladesh / Coronavirus Pandemic / Infection rate

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  •  ABM Khairul Haque. File Photo: Collected
    Former chief justice Khairul Haque detained
  • Infographics: TBS
    Stay orders won’t shield defaulters: BB governor 
  • Police officers detain alleged undocumented Bangladeshi nationals after they were arrested during raids in Ahmedabad, India, April 26, 2025. Photo: HRW
    Hundreds of Muslims unlawfully expelled to Bangladesh from India: HRW

MOST VIEWED

  • Photo: Collected
    Bangladeshi man jailed for life in UK for murdering wife in front of their baby
  • Ctg port authority halts contractor recruitment for Kamalapur ICD operations for two months
    Ctg port authority halts contractor recruitment for Kamalapur ICD operations for two months
  • Fire at Cosmo School in Mirpur on 23 July 2025. Photo: TBS
    Fire breaks out at Cosmo School in Mirpur following generator explosion
  • Representational image. File Photo: Rajib Dhar/TBS
    Debate arises as edu adviser says postponed HSC exams of 22 and 24 July will be held on same day
  • The Government Seal of Bangladesh
    Govt mulls allowing trade unions with 20 workers, industry leaders warn of disorder
  • Photo: CA Press Wing
    Stronger stance needed on maintaining law and order: Political parties to CA

Related News

  • Covid: One dead, eight more infected
  • New Covid-19 variant in town: Are we ready to fight the old enemy in a new guise?
  • Triple threat: Dengue, Covid cases surge as chikungunya reemerges
  • Covid-19: 2 more deaths, 4 new cases reported in 24hrs
  • Special health guidelines issued for HSC exams amid covid-19, dengue surge

Features

Photo: Collected

24 July: More than 1400 arrested, 3 missing coordinators found

11h | Panorama
Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS

Aggrieved nation left with questions as citizens rally to help at burn institute

1d | Panorama
Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS

Mourning turns into outrage as Milestone students seek truth and justice

1d | Panorama
Illustration: TBS

Uttara, Jatrabari, Savar and more: The killing fields that ran red with July martyrs’ blood

2d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Former chief justice Khairul Haque detained

Former chief justice Khairul Haque detained

14m | TBS Today
Why are there renewed tensions between Iran and Israel?

Why are there renewed tensions between Iran and Israel?

59m | Others
Coca-Cola is launching a 'Trump version' made with cane sugar

Coca-Cola is launching a 'Trump version' made with cane sugar

2h | Others
ISPR reports 31 dead, official tally 29

ISPR reports 31 dead, official tally 29

12h | TBS Today
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net