Covid-19 bd
Strict nationwide lockdown in Bangladesh from Monday as Covid situation worsens
The government is going to enforce a new nationwide "strict lockdown" on Monday, as the country grapples with a surge in coronavirus cases and fatalities with the highly infectious Delta variant playing havoc.
The restrictions will remain in place for seven days, said Press Information Department Principal Information Officer Surath Kumar Sarker.
Government and private offices, barring those of emergency services, will remain shut during this period.
All modes of transport, except those carrying emergency goods, will also remain suspended and nobody will be allowed to go out unless there is an emergency.
Also read: From bad to worse: Bangladesh reports 108 new Covid deaths, 5,869 cases
However, the restrictions will not apply to the media, ambulances, and vehicles used for medical purposes.
The Cabinet Division will come up with details regarding the "strict lockdown" on Saturday, Surath said.
The repeated lockdowns have become a threat to the livelihoods of many in Bangladesh while disrupting travel and social lives.
However, experts hope that stricter rules will bring positivity rates and fatalities down as the country is battling to get a second coronavirus wave under control.
Also read: Bangladesh may see dreadful Covid peak ahead of Eid, experts warn
The National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19 pandemic on Thursday recommended imposing a "nationwide shutdown" for two weeks considering the worsening Covid-19 situation in the country.
Community transmission of the highly transmissible Delta variant of coronavirus might be the reason behind the current Covid-19 situation in the country, said the committee.
It used the example of India to emphasise that no step other than a "complete shutdown" might be enough to prevent the spread of the Delta variant.
Bangladesh has seen a spike in coronavirus infections and fatalities in recent weeks, with the country reporting its second-highest fatalities – 108 new deaths – and 5,869 cases Friday. It has now seen 878,804 cases and 13,976 deaths.
Bangladesh may see dreadful Covid peak ahead of Eid, experts warn
Amid the rise in Covid cases triggered by local transmission of the Delta variant, experts predict that Bangladesh may see the peak of the current wave of the deadly virus in the third week of July next.
Using a mathematical model, Bangladesh Como Modelling Group, a panel of local and international health experts, also said the number of daily cases is likely to cross 10,000-mark in mid-July, putting a serious pressure on the country’s healthcare system.
They, however, said the severity of the virus infection and fatality rates during the probable peak on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha will depend on the effectiveness of preventive measures, management of cattle markets and control on public movement.
The experts appreciated the government’s move to isolate Dhaka from other parts of the country by suspending road, rail and waterway communications, saying that it may help slow down the virus transmission.
Prevailing situation
Bangladesh reported 20.27% positivity rate and 1.59% fatality rate on Wednesday, the highest since April 21.
DGHS spokesperson Dr Robed Amin said the Covid-19 situation has worsened in the country as the virus has been spreading fast in bordering and other areas of the country. “The number of cases and deaths are gradually rising."
He said they fear that a terrible situation lies ahead if people do not strictly maintain the health safety rules.
Robed said the virus transmission has been showing a gradual upward trend from June 16 and the death rate is now very high.
He said over 70,000 people were diagnosed with Covid this month due to the outbreak of the virus in the frontier areas.
Also read: Advisory committee suggests complete shutdown in Bangladesh for minimum 14 days
Robed said the Corona situation has deteriorated in Barishal, Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Mymensingh and Rangpur divisions over the last one week.
He said the virus infection has declined in Rajshahi while Sylhet is in a somewhat stable condition. “Khulna division witnessed the highest number of Covid deaths over the last one week.”
The DGHs spokesman said there are many empty beds and ICUs in government and private hospitals in different parts of the country, including Dhaka, but the picture of hospitals in border areas is different as most of them are overwhelmed.
Advisory committee suggests complete shutdown in Bangladesh for minimum 14 days
The National Technical Advisory Committee on the Covid-19 pandemic recommended that a complete nationwide ‘shutdown’ be enforced for at least two weeks to deal with the worsening Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh.
Community transmission of the highly transmissible Delta variant of coronavirus might be the reason behind deterioration in the Covid-19 situation in the country, said the committee in a media release.
The committee used the example of India as areference to emphasize that no step other than a complete shutdown might be enough to prevent the spread of the Delta variant of the virus.
Also read: Rapid rise in Bangladesh’s Covid cases, 81 more die
“Everything, including offices, courts and businesses, need to be closed for at least 14 days. Otherwise, no other steps taken by the government will be enough to contain the virus,” the committee said.The committee also recommended that at least 80 % of the population should be brought under the vaccination drive, aiming to bring back normal life.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh recorded 6,058 newinfections and 81 deaths in the last 24 hours until Thursday morning.
Also read: Countries like Bangladesh need support for vaccine production: FM
This is the highest number of single-day positive cases in 73 days since April 12.
However, the positivity rate fell slightly to19.93 % on Thursday and the death rate remained static at 1.59 %.
Nationwide lockdown not needed if transmission in Dhaka, nearby districts is controlled: DGHS
The countrywide lockdown will not be necessary if Covid-19 transmission can be controlled in Dhaka and its adjacent districts, says the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
DGHS spokesperson Dr Robed Amin came up with the remark at its daily virtual briefing on Covid-19 on Wednesday.
“We’re observing the infection rates both in Dhaka and the surrounding districts. If the situation worsens in the capital first, a lockdown will be imposed in Dhaka and then across the country,” he said.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh reports 85 more deaths, positivity rate crosses 20%
In response to a question about vaccines, Dr Amin said Bangladesh has a shortage of Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine doses.
“Such deficit is there across the world. Although many stakeholders have assured us of providing vaccines from their stocks, nothing is final until we receive those,” he said.
Dr Amin said the vaccine that Oxford has is the vector vaccine and many other organizations have such vaccines.
Also read: 16 more Covid patients die at Rajshahi hospital
“For example, there is a vaccine that comes from the Russian research institute Gamalia Research Institute, another from the Chinese biopharmaceutical company Cancino, and Johnson & Johnson also has a similar one in the United States. Even if we get such alternative vaccines, it will be possible to solve the problem of the second dose vaccine in the country,” the DGHS spokesperson added.
Lockdown in Natore extended till June 29
As the Covid-19 situation in Natore district is out of control, the local administration has extended the ongoing lockdown in eight municipalities by another week till June 29.
Deputy Commissioner of Natore district Shamim Ahmed announced it after a meeting on Tuesday night.
As per the decision of the meeting, the restriction will be in place from 6 am on June 23 to 6 pm June 29.
Also read: 8-day lockdown in Fatikchhari begins tomorrow
During the lockdown, all modes of public transport will stay off the roads. However, the movement restrictions won't apply to vehicles providing emergency services.
Moreover, all shops, markets and restaurants will remain closed, except for grocery stores and pharmacies. This is to allow people to buy their daily essentials and medicines from their local grocers and chemists.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh reports 76 more deaths, 4,846 fresh cases
Earlier, the local administration imposed restriction in two municipalities—Sadar and Singra municipalities—in two phases from June 9.
Amid a desperate bid to procure vaccines for all, Bangladesh reported 76 fresh coronavirus-related deaths and 4,846 new cases in the past 24 hours on Tuesday.
Covid antibody higher among Dhaka slum dwellers: icddr,b
The presence of Covid-19 antibody is higher among the residents of slums than adjacent low-to-middle-income non-slum areas, suggesting that the people of these areas were infected more with the deadly virus.
A study, carried out by icddr,b between October 2020 and February 2021 among 3,220 people living in slums and adjacent non-slum areas in Dhaka and Chattogram cities, revealed the above information.
The main objective of the study, titled ‘Drivers of Covid-19 in Slums and Non-slum Areas of Dhaka and Chattogram’, was to ascertain the seroprevalence of Covid -19 among slum and non-slum dwellers, and identify probable risk factors.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh reports 76 more deaths, 4,846 fresh cases
According to the study, the overall seroprevalence positivity among the participants was 68%, while the rate was 72% among people living in slums and 62% among residents of non-slum areas.
The seropositivity was similar across adults (70%) and children (65.5%). The seroprevalence was higher in females (70.6%) than in males (66%).
Higher seroprevalence was found in individuals with fewer years of education, diabetes, overweight, and hypertension.
Also read: Hasina suggests 6 points for framing post-Covid global recovery plan
Lower seroprevalence was found in individuals who frequently washed hands, did not put fingers on the face/in the nose, have been vaccinated with BCG, and carried out moderate physical activities.
The study led to two conclusion -- the overall seropositivity was higher in Dhaka than in Chittagong, and estimated SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence was higher in slums than in the adjacent low-to-middle-income non- slum areas, according to a media release.
Covid-19: Bangladesh reports 76 more deaths, 4,846 fresh cases
As the Coronavirus situation continues to worsen in Bangladesh creating new hotspots outside capital Dhaka, health authorities logged 4,846 more new cases with a positivity rate of 19.36% in 24 hours until Tuesday morning.
The positivity rate in the country rose to 19.36% from Monday’s 19.27 percent, said a handout of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Besides, the deadly virus claimed the lives of 76 more people during the 24-hour period, bringing the national tally to 13,702.
The fresh cases pushed up the total caseload to 8,61,150, the handout added.
However, the mortality rate remained static at 1.59%.
So far, 788,385 people have recovered from the virus infections with 2903 new ones, taking the recovery rate to 91.55%.
Of the fresh cases, 1,967 were detected in Dhaka, 998 in Khulna and 763 in Rajshahi, divisions, the three regions that showed the highest infections during the 24-hour period.
Of the deceased, 14 were reported from Dhaka, 14 from Rajshahi, 27 from Khulna, 10 from Chattogram, six from Rangpur, two from Barishal and three from Sylhet divisions. No death was reported from Mymensingh division.
Also read: Covid antibody higher among Dhaka slum dwellers: icddr,b
Suspension of bus services
No long-distance bus was allowed to leave or enter capital Dhaka on Tuesday as the government enforced tougher restrictions in an effort to beat the deadly Coronavirus.
The decision to suspend the bus services was taken on Monday night after announcing a strict lockdown in seven adjacent districts of Dhaka to stop the transmission of Coronavirus amid rising infections in different districts, as it is believed to have been caused by Delta variant.
The districts are Narayanganj, Gazipur, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Madaripur, Rajbari and Gopalganj districts.
The movement of long-haul buses on Dhaka-Chattogram highway remained halted as Narayanganj went under lockdown.
The lockdown in the seven districts will remain in force until June 30 midnight.
Suspension of vessel movement
Authorities have suspended the movement of all passenger vessels in Narayanganj, Gazipur, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Madaripur, Rajbari and Gopalganj from Tuesday morning.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) announced its decision to suspend the movement of launches, speedboats and trawlers on Monday, following the Cabinet Division’s circular on the imposition of lockdown in seven districts.
Also read: Hasina suggests 6 points for framing post-Covid global recovery plan
Vaccine rollout
Bangladesh on Monday started administering the first doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at three centers in Dhaka to fight off Covid-19.
On May 27, the government approved the emergency use of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine in the country.
Bangladesh on Saturday started administering Sinopharm vaccine doses across the country.
The vaccination started in the capital and elsewhere in the country with 11 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine gifted by China, said the DGHS.
Bangladesh is now administering the 1st doses of Sinopharm and Pfizer BioNTech vaccine and also the second dose of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.
As of now, 5,225 people received the first dose of China’s Sinopharm vaccine, including 1,505 in the past 24 hours.
Of the Astrazeneca vaccine doses, 4,273,325 received the second shot and 5,820,015 the first one so far.
Bangladesh reports alarming 82 Covid deaths, highest in 52 days
As the Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh has taken a turn for the worse again, 82 more people died of coronavirus in 24 hours until Sunday morning.
This is the highest daily death toll in the last 52 days as the country logged 88 deaths on April 29 this year.
During the period, 3,641 more Covid cases were detected after the test of 22,231 samples, said a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
This takes the test positivity rate to 16.38% today from Saturday’s 18.02%.
However, the country's fatality rate remained static at 1.59%.
With the new numbers, the country’s caseload now stood at 851,668 while the death toll at 13,548, said the DGHS handout.
As of now, 782,655 people have recovered from the disease taking the recovery rate to 91.90%.
Also read: Bangladesh to start administering Pfizer vaccine doses Monday
Bangladesh’s recovery rate has been falling for more than a week now.
Of the fatalities, Khulna division reported the highest number of 32 deaths for the second consecutive day while Dhaka division 21, Rajshahi 12, Chattogram nine, Mymensingh four, Sylhet two and Barishal and Rangpur divisions one each.
Pfizer vaccine rollout Monday
Bangladesh’s health workers are gearing up to start administering the first doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in capital Dhaka on Monday with 100,620 doses of vaccine from COVAX facility.
Prof Shamsul Haque, Line Director of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and a member of the Vaccine Distribution Committee, disclosed it in a health briefing on Sunday.
Over one-third people uninformed about Covid-19 vaccine registration: Study
As the nationwide vaccination drive was launched in Bangladesh in February, a high willingness was found among people to be vaccinated, according to a recent study.
However, there were many barriers among the rural and urban slum people to get vaccinated. Nearly one-third of respondents from rural and urban slums reported that they did not know about the Covid-19 vaccine registration process in the first place.
Among those who knew about vaccine registration, many did not get registered since they were unsure about their eligibility for the vaccine.
Researchers from Brac Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) presented the study findings at the webinar "Covid-19 Vaccination: Willingness and Practice in Bangladesh" Thursday.
The study analysed data from three surveys conducted from late January to the end of March 2021 to examine the willingness to be vaccinated in Bangladesh.
BIGD Executive Director Dr Imran Matin said: "Our research has identified the urban slum and youth as 'hotspot' target populations to focus on during vaccine registration communications. As we delve deeper, there will soon be a need for implementation research on mass vaccination."
Diana Mitlin, professor at the University of Manchester, said: "We know that those who live in informal settlements are often badly treated, not getting the services they need, leading to a history of suspicion. The importance of messaging and creating excitement around health services seems to be important – especially in reducing the anxiety and negative concerns around vaccination and can be a scope for improving the relationship of these communities with the government."
Dr Shakila Sultana, deputy program manager of Expanded Program on Immunisation (EPI) of the Directorate General of Health Services said: "The government decided to slow down registration communication since we are currently facing a vaccine shortage. We will start proper communications once we can manage the supply side constraint."
Four areas of Gopalganj restricted for a week
To prevent the spread of coronavirus, the upazila administration has imposed restrictions in two municipalities and two unions of Gopalganj.
Gopalganj Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shahida Sultana issued a notice to this effect on Thursday afternoon.
The areas mentioned in notice were Gopalganj, Muksudpur municipality, Latifpur and Kashiani union.
Gopalganj Additional District Magistrate Shafiqul Islam said the restrictions would be implemented from June 18-24.
During this time all types of businesses-organizations, shops, shopping malls, kitchen markets and grocery stores in these areas were instructed to remain open from 8 am to 3 pm.
Restaurants could remain open until 10 pm, but people could only take away food parcels.
Hawkers were prohibited to set up stores on sidewalks and footpaths.
In addition, all types of tourist centers, resorts, community centers and entertainment centers would remain closed.
Public gatherings, such social events, political and religious ceremonies were restricted too.
However, transports were permitted to run following health guidelines.
Gopalganj Civil Surgeon Dr. Sujat Ahmed said due to the increase in Covid-19 infection rate, the district administration on Thursday was requested to impose restrictions in the risky areas. Accordingly, restrictions in those areas were imposed from Friday.