CoronaVirus in Bangladesh - Updates & Discussion

[VikingRaider]

https://www.dhakatribune.com/health...ans-multi-sector-initiative-to-expand-testing

Coronavirus: Bangladesh plans multi-sector initiative to expand testing
Syed Samiul Basher Anik

• Published at 12:15 pm April 15th, 2020

Bigstock

PCR laboratories of private hospitals, universities will be used for Covid-19 testing

Getting tested for coronavirus in Bangladesh has not been an easy task for many suspected cases, as the health authorities kept it quite limited since the first cases were reported on March 8.

Gradually, only 17 institutions were allowed for coronavirus testing since March 8.

But, amid much criticism from different quarters, the health authorities finally decided to go for a multi-sector-approach to add new institutions for Covid-19 testing, allowing some private hospitals to conduct tests for the virus.

It will also use Polymerase Chain Reaction [PCR] testing labs under different universities and ministries of agriculture and livestock, to enhance testing facilities.

Currently, nine labs in Dhaka and eight labs in different districts are conducting Covid-19 tests for suspected cases.

11 new institutions to launch tests

The government has decided to introduce coronavirus testing facilities at 11 hospitals to get more test results.

Among the hospitals, five will be in Dhaka and six in other districts, Dr Nasima Sultana, additional director general [admin] of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said.

The hospitals include Kurmitola General Hospital, Sir Salimullah Medical College (Mitford Hospital), Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College, Mugda Medical College, and Sheikh Russell Gastroliver Institute in Dhaka.

The other six facilities outside Dhaka are at Chittagong Medical College, Comilla Medical College, Faridpur Medical College, Kushtia Medical College, M Abdur Rahim Medical College in Dinajpur, and Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College in Bogra.

“Sample testing will begin at these 11 institutions within a few days,” said Nasima.

Private hospitals to be allowed also

The government has also decided to include some private hospitals and institutions to use their PCR machines for the coronavirus testing.

“Based on certain conditions, private hospitals and institutions having PCR laboratories will be brought under the testing mechanism,” Nasima said.



The DGHS has requested the interested institutions with PCR lab facilities to contact this number 01313791149.

Neighbouring countries India and Pakistan have already brought private hospitals into their national response plans in anticipation of the threat of community transmission, while Bangladesh is lagging behind.

Bangladesh Private Medical College Association (BPMCA) has long been urging the government to allow a fixed number of private hospitals having capacity to conduct Covid-19 tests to enhance the testing capacity.

“Aimed at gradually increasing the number of testing labs, the government also decided to use PCR labs under different universities and under the ministries of agriculture and livestock,” Nasima further added.

Where can you test for Covid-19 at the moment?

Free tests for the detection of Covid-19 infection are now being conducted in 17 labs, according to officials at the DGHS.

In Dhaka, tests can be done at the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), National Polio, Measles and Rubella Laboratory in Institute of Public Health (NPML-IPH), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Child Health Research Foundation under Dhaka Shishu Hospital, Dhaka Medical College, Institute for Developing Science and Health Initiatives [non-profitable], National Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Referral Centre (NILMRC), and the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b).

The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) is conducting tests for the members of armed forces.

Outside of Dhaka, Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases in Chittagong, Khulna Medical College, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Mymensingh Medical College, Rajshahi Medical College, Rangpur Medical College, Sher-e-Bangla Medical College in Barisal, and Cox's Bazar Medical College are conducting tests for Covid-19.

Covid-19 at a glance

The coronavirus first broke out in China’s Wuhan in December last year. The Covid-19, a severe acute respiratory illness caused by a new strain of coronavirus named Sars-CoV-2, since then has quickly spread throughout the world, becoming a pandemic in less than three months.

The health authorities in Bangladesh reported the first Covid-19 cases on March 8.

As of Tuesday, 1,012 people had tested positive for the extremely contagious disease in the country, including 46 who have died.

@Atlas

Good I hope our test numbers will be increased. However I think this is another good news.
https://m.somoynews.tv/pages/details/207991
It's a good news too that they will provide coronavirus testing kit by 21-22 April.

@UKBengali

 

[Black_cats]

02:20 PM, April 16, 2020 / LAST MODIFIED: 02:44 PM, April 16, 2020
10 more coronavirus patients die, 341 test positive in 24hrs: DGHS

https://www.thedailystar.net/corona...ents-die-341-test-positive-24hrs-dghs-1893466

Star Online Report

Ten died of coronavirus infection in the last 24 hours, DGHS said today.

The death toll now stands at 60, said Prof Dr Nasima Sultana, additional director general (administration) of Directorate General of Health Services during a briefing.

This is the highest number of deaths due to Covid-19 in a day in the country.

Three hundred and forty-one people have tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 24 hours.

With this, the total number of infected has reached 1,572.

A total number of 2,019 samples were tested in the last 24 hours across the country, she said.



More to follow.....

 

[VikingRaider]

Need more test per day. Test numbers are increasing but very slowly. Only of govt could strongly handle the expats returned from Italy, we wouldn't have to suffered like this.

 

[VikingRaider]

07:52 PM, April 16, 2020 / LAST MODIFIED: 09:26 PM, April 16, 2020
Coronavirus: Govt declares entire Bangladesh at risk

No one can go out between 6pm-6am

Star Online Report

The government today declared the entire Bangladesh at risk of the coronavirus pandemic as the infection has now spread to various parts of the country.

Professor Abul Kalam Azad, director general of the health directorate, issued a circular making the declaration this afternoon.

"It will not be possible to control the spread of the virus if physical distancing cannot be ensured," the notice read.

As such the government has issued three clear orders to control the spread of Covid-19 and anyone violating the instructions will face stern actions. No one can leave their homes from 6:00pm to 6:00am.

"People must stay home to curb the spread of the virus. No one should leave home unless absolutely necessary or for emergency purposes," the circular added.

"Bangladesh has been declared at risk of infection under the Infectious diseases (Prevention, Control and Elimination) Act 2018."

The declaration that the entire nation is at risk of coronavirus pandemic comes as the country records its highest death count – 10 -- from Covid-19 in 24 hours.


Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/govern...sh-risk-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-1893514

 

[Gibbs]

07:52 PM, April 16, 2020 / LAST MODIFIED: 09:26 PM, April 16, 2020
Coronavirus: Govt declares entire Bangladesh at risk

No one can go out between 6pm-6am

Star Online Report

The government today declared the entire Bangladesh at risk of the coronavirus pandemic as the infection has now spread to various parts of the country.

Professor Abul Kalam Azad, director general of the health directorate, issued a circular making the declaration this afternoon.

"It will not be possible to control the spread of the virus if physical distancing cannot be ensured," the notice read.

As such the government has issued three clear orders to control the spread of Covid-19 and anyone violating the instructions will face stern actions. No one can leave their homes from 6:00pm to 6:00am.

"People must stay home to curb the spread of the virus. No one should leave home unless absolutely necessary or for emergency purposes," the circular added.

"Bangladesh has been declared at risk of infection under the Infectious diseases (Prevention, Control and Elimination) Act 2018."

The declaration that the entire nation is at risk of coronavirus pandemic comes as the country records its highest death count – 10 -- from Covid-19 in 24 hours.


Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/govern...sh-risk-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-1893514

Bit too late no.. Should have declared curfew weeks ago given the population density and Bangladesh's fragile health system.. That mortality rate is very high for a low number of tested cases

 

[VikingRaider]

Bit too late no.. Should have declared curfew weeks ago given the population density and Bangladesh's fragile health system.. That mortality rate is very high for a low number of tested cases

Actually administration was very strong and few people roamed outside Dhaka. And in Dhaka some people disobeyed lockdown and got punishment. The real problem was before when 5 April lots of garments workers started walking to Dhaka after the miscommunication between commerce minister and BGMEA.

Also when govt didn't take strong step to quarantine Italy returned expats. Real damage happened that time IMO. However you are right about curfew, and I also believe that army should have been deployed long ago. Only army can control our people effectively, not civil administration.

But I hope it's still not very late. Still govt can control if they act very strongly. I think emergency should be declared and army should be deployed in huge number and it should be done right now.

 

[Gibbs]

Actually administration was very strong and few people roamed outside Dhaka. And in Dhaka some people disobeyed lockdown and got punishment. The real problem was before when 5 April lots of garments workers started walking to Dhaka after the miscommunication between commerce minister and BGMEA.

Also when govt didn't take strong step to quarantine Italy returned expats. Real damage happened that time IMO. However you are right about curfew, and I also believe that army should have been deployed long ago. Only army can control our people effectively, not civil administration.

But I hope it's still not very late. Still govt can control if they act very strongly. I think emergency should be declared and army should be deployed in huge number and it should be done right now.

Just comparing within the region the Government of SL took rigid steps on the 18th of March when their 2nd wave of infections came to light through similarly to yours, Returnees from Italy were found out to be carriers.. The country is in full lock down to date.. But with those steps they have managed to flatten the curve and restrict community infection to a larger degree and limit the death rates, Thus now they're discussing on how to relax the curfew and get the economy going by 20th of April, Contrary unfortunately for Bangladesh they're planning for a lockdown only now.. GOB should have gone in to curfew given the nature of mentality that exists within the masses of th sub continent as you rightly pointed out

I hope i'm not talking too soon regarding the situation in SL, Cos this virus can spring surprises, But here is how the GOSL and the SL Health authorities handled it in detail thus far

https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/how-...he-coronavirus-pandemic.658563/#post-12241733

 

[Black_cats]

7000 RMG workers protesting at Gazipur for their salary.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1354526851409548

 

[Aung Zaya]

7000 RMG workers protesting at Gazipur for their salary.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1354526851409548

this is high risk situation of virus infection.

 

[Pakistani Fighter]

Bangladesh Records Largest 1-Day Spike In Coronavirus Cases, Total Reaches 1,572

Muhammad Irfan 16 hours ago Thu 16th April 2020 | 06:32 PM

The number of coronavirus cases confirmed in Bangladesh has grown to 1,572, which is over 340 cases more than the previous day, Bangladesh's Health Ministry said on Thursday



NEW DELHI (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th April, 2020) The number of coronavirus cases confirmed in Bangladesh has grown to 1,572, which is over 340 cases more than the previous day, Bangladesh's Health Ministry said on Thursday.


The death toll from the disease has risen by 10 over the past day, reaching 60 fatalities in total.



This is the largest one day increase since testing began in the country, the ministry said.

The government has issued a stay-at-home order through April 25th across the entire nation of over 160 million people.

 

[Gibbs]

7000 RMG workers protesting at Gazipur for their salary.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1354526851409548

Oh shit, Was this recent ? That's a Covid19 petri dish right there

 

[UKBengali]

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangla...avirus-15-more-die-266-more-infected-in-24hrs

@Atlas

Let us not get unduly anxious about these figures.
15 dead in last 24 hours is a tragedy but far less than other countries with comparable population and stage of epidemic.

We can also take solace that the number of new infections has gone down from the 300s the day before yesterday to 200s yesterday.

BD government is now going for total lockdown across BD and while some mistakes have been made so far, BD is taking the required measures to hopefully stop what has happened in Europe and USA.


"Coronavirus: Bangladesh records highest death for 2nd consecutive day, total infected 1,838
Tribune Desk

• Published at 02:34 pm April 17th, 2020

Photo: Bigstock

Fifteen more people have died, 266 more infected in the last 24 hours

Bangladesh has recorded the highest death for the second day with 15 more fatalities in the last 24 hours from coronavirus infection, taking the death toll to 75.

Besides, as many as 266 people contracted the Covid-19, a disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus, afresh over the same period, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 1,838.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque revealed the data while addressing an online press briefing in Dhaka on Friday afternoon.

The minister, however, said nine more individuals recover in the past 24 hours, taking the number of recovered people to 58.



On Thursday, Bangladesh first recorded the double-digit fatalities (10) from the pandemic announced by the World Health Organization (WHO), since the country declared its first death on March 18.

A number of 341 more patients were also detected in the last 24 hours ending 8am on Thursday in the country.

The fast spreading coronavirus, which was first reported in China's Wuhan, has claimed 147,051 lives and infected 2,190,726 people across the world till 3:10pm on Friday, according to worldometer.

As many as 553,731 people have recovered from Covid-19, a disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus, which has spread to 210 countries and territories across the planet.
"

 

[Black_cats]

Oh shit, Was this recent ? That's a Covid19 petri dish right there

Yesterday!

 

[Gibbs]

Yesterday!

It looks pretty bad mate, voluntary self isolation does'nt really work in South Asian communities, Authorities need to be more proactive

 

[UKBengali]

It looks pretty bad mate, voluntary self isolation does'nt really work in South Asian communities, Authorities need to be more proactive

I think this was the authorities allowing it for the sake of public order.
These workers came out probably because they were near starvation.
They are following a gradual process of restricting freedoms and enforcing more heavily, as they are well aware of what they can impose at what time.