Covid fear rises

• So far, 85 Covid cases of South African variant, 27 of UK variant, 23 of Indian variant and five of Nigerian variant have been found in Bangladesh
• Epidemiology and Public Health Committee of DGHS asked for imposing lockdown in seven more districts

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With three more people with fast-spreading and deadlier Indian variant of Covid-19, the total of such cases in Bangladesh has now increased to 23. Not only that, The Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) on Sunday reported that 85 Covid cases of South African variant, 27 of UK variant and five of Nigerian variant have been found in Bangladesh so far.

As Bangladesh experiences community transmission of variations of Indian, SA, UK Covid, experts now fear this will cause infections to rise further. They have urged the authorities to take appropriate measures, including imposing a lockdown in the border districts, to prevent the spread of the variant, specially the Indian one.

Meanwhile, the Epidemiology and Public Health Committee of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has recommended for imposing lockdown in seven more districts with immediate effect to curb the growing rate of Covid-19 infection in the district. The districts are Satkhira, Natore, Naogaon, Rajshahi, Khulna, Kushtia and Jashore.

IEDCR Director Professor Dr Tahmina Shirin on Sunday in a virtual briefing said, “We sequenced 263 samples, of which the above mentioned patients were found. Regardless the variants, we have to follow health guidelines and take vaccine. Thus we can reduce the infection and control the pandemic.”

“We have identified the Indian variant -- B.1.617 -- in 27 samples. They either visited India recently or came into contact with someone who visited the neighbouring country,” she said.

The IEDCR director, however, said that identifying the variant was not a matter of worrying. “In future, more new variants will emerge. It's natural. What people have to do is follow the health safety rules properly,” she added.

She also urged all to be careful handling mangoes coming from Chapainawabganj district, which has seen a sudden surge in Covid-19 cases.

Over the past week or so, Chapainawabganj has turned into a hotspot of Covid-19, leading to a strict lockdown that will be in place till Monday.

There are also restrictions on public gathering and movement in place around the country which will end on June 6.

Dr Abu Jamil Faisal, a member of the Epidemiology and Public Health Committee of DGHS said, “The recommendation of imposing lockdown in seven more districts was placed in a meeting on Saturday evening. We have made this recommendation to the Cabinet Division through the Ministry of Health.”

In addition to lockdown, it has also been recommended to involve the public in tackling the infection. The committee also suggested providing food aid to marginalised people in the lockdown.

Recent figures from the World Health Organization show a significant rise in coronavirus infections in districts that share borders with or are close to India.

Besides Chapainawabganj, 14 other border districts with higher infection rates include Chuadanga, Naogaon, Rajshahi and Jessore.

Dr Abu Jamil Faisal said that the Indian variant’s community transmission is a big concern as it also infects children. He said mango-laden trucks now go to every corner of the country and the Indian variant may spread in other districts via truckers and their helpers.   

“Health rules have to be followed strictly and testing should be increased in the border districts. Those testing positive should be quarantined immediately. Infections will increase rapidly if the chain of infections cannot be broken,” he said.

Rajshahi Medical College Hospital Director Brigadier General Shamim Yazdani has recommended imposing a special lockdown in Rajshahi with immediate effect to curb the growing rate of infections.

He said hospitals had run out of space due to the increase in the number of Covid-19 patients.

“Most of the patients recovered after treatment as each of them was provided with a bed and high flow nasal cannula with central oxygen facilities so far. But infections in the district are rising and the hospital will not be able to provide the same facilities if more patients arrive,” he added.

Apart from Rajshahi, patients from Chapainawabganj, Natore, Naogaon, Joypurhat, Pabna and Kushtia also come to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for Covid-19 treatment. Hospital sources said some 191 people, including 94 from Chapainawabganj, were undergoing treatment in the coronavirus ward and the intensive care unit till Saturday.In the last five days, 39 people have died at the hospital due to Covid-19 or as a result of its symptoms.