Covid-19 update
Covid-19: 15 more die in Kushtia
Fifteen more Covid-related deaths were reported at Kushtia General Hospital in the last 24 hours until Monday morning.
Of the deceased, 10 tested positive for Covid-19 while remaining had symptoms, said statistics officer of Kushtia General Hospital Md Mejbaul Alam.
Read:Kushtia logs nine more Covid deaths
Besides, 141 people have tested positive for Covid in the district in the past 24 hours. "Some 511 samples were tested during the period," he said.
The positivity rate currently stands at 27.59%.
A total of 220 people with Covid symptoms are currently undergoing treatment at the leading medical facility.
So far, 15,949 people have been infected with the virus in the district, while the death toll reached 630.
Read: Covid claims lives of 12 people in Kushtia in 24 hrs
On the other hand, 12,308 people have recovered from Covid to date.
Covid-19: 11 more die at RMCH
Eleven more Covid-related deaths were reported at Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH) in the past 24 hours, health officials said on Monday.
Seven of them were confirmed Covid-19 patients while 4 showed symptoms of the virus, said hospital director Brigadier General Shamim Yeazdani
Read: 19 more die of Covid at Rajshahi hospital
Of the deceased, 5 were from Rajshahi, 1 from Chapainawabganj, 2 from Natore, 1 from Naogaon and two from Pabna. Seven of them were men, the remaining women.
Shamim said that 42 people have been admitted to the corona unit of the hospital in the past 24 hours. On the other hand, some 44 people were discharged from the hospital after recovery during the period.
Besides, some 399 people are currently undergoing treatment at 513-bed corona unit of the hospital.
Read:Rajshahi hospital sees 18 more Covid deaths in 24 hrs
RMCH has been one of the most stretched hospitals in the country during the second wave of Covid-19, particularly since the latter part of May when the deadly Delta variant of the virus was identified in multiple samples of Rajshahi division.
Dhaka grapples to enforce lockdown
Law enforcers literally scrambled to impose Covid-19 lockdown restrictions in Dhaka on Wednesday, as the capital witnessed some rush-hour traffic in the morning.
Though public transport vehicles stayed off the capital roads, police and armed forces personnel were seen flagging down several private cars and people they thought had stepped out for frivolous reasons on the 13th day of the countrywide strict lockdown aimed at reducing the Covid-19 contagion risk.
Read: Dhaka's traffic overload that never ends, not even in lock.down
The police imposed fines on commuters who failed to produce proper documents in support of their "emergency travel", while those with valid papers were allowed to go. Many without supporting documents bridled at such restrictions, resulting in heated exchange of words with cops.
In fact, RAB and Army personnel patrolling the streets of Dhaka, alongside the local police, have set up check-posts in different areas of the city.
At some places, traffic congestion was seen between 8.30 am and 11.30 am.
Traffic inspector Akther Hossain (Uttara Rajlaxmi), said, “The pressure of private vehicles is higher than that of Tuesday, but we are only allowing those with valid reasons to travel."
"Cases are also being filed against violators. Mobile courts are also slapping fines on lockdown violators," he said.
In fact, people’s movement has significantly risen as export-oriented industries have started operations, the inspector said.
"Ambulances and people going out for taking Covid jabs are being allowed to travel," Akther said.
Read: Lockdown breaches: Police arrest 343 in Dhaka
The nationwide lockdown, first imposed for 14-days until August 5, has now been extended for another five days till August 10 amid a surge in the Delta variant of Covid-19 infections across the country.
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque announced the decision of the government to reporters after an inter-ministerial meeting on Tuesday.
He said shops, factories and offices would be allowed to reopen from August 11, "while public transport can ply roads on a limited scale once the lockdown is over".
Read: Lockdown in Dhaka: Surging infections, soaring chaos
Covid-19 situation
Amid the merciless onslaught of Covid-19 in Bangladesh, the country recorded 236 more deaths linked to the virus in 24 hours till Tuesday morning.
According to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 15,776 more people came out positive with the virus during the period after the test of 55,284 samples.
The fresh numbers pushed the country’s death tally to 21,397 on Tuesday, with the caseload mounting to 1,296,093.
Meanwhile, the daily test positivity rate fell to 28.58 % from Monday's 29.91%, while the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a 5% or below rate.
The country has been seeing over 14,300 cases and 230 deaths every day on an average for the last seven days.
Delta variant: Fauci warns of more 'pain and suffering' ahead
Dr. Anthony Fauci warned Sunday that more “pain and suffering” is on the horizon as COVID-19 cases climb again and officials plead with unvaccinated Americans to get their shots.
Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, also said he doesn’t foresee additional lockdowns in the U.S. because he believes enough people are vaccinated to avoid a recurrence of last winter. However, he said not enough are inoculated to “crush the outbreak” at this point.
Read:Global Covid situation worsening as cases near 198 million
Fauci’s warning comes days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed course to recommend that even vaccinated people return to wearing masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where the delta variant is fueling infection surges. With the switch, federal health officials have cited studies showing vaccinated people can spread the virus to others.
Most new infections in the U.S. continue to be among unvaccinated people. So-called breakthrough infections can occur in vaccinated people, and though the vast majority of those cause mild or no symptoms, the research shows they can carry about the same amount of the coronavirus as those who did not get the shots.
“So we’re looking, not, I believe, to lockdown, but we’re looking to some pain and suffering in the future because we’re seeing the cases go up, which is the reason why we keep saying over and over again, the solution to this is get vaccinated and this would not be happening,” Fauci said on ABC’s “This Week.”
According to data through July 30 from Johns Hopkins University, the seven-day rolling average for daily new cases in the U.S. rose from 30,887 on July 16 to 77,827 on July 30. The seven-day rolling average for the country’s daily new deaths rose over the same period from 253 on July 16 to 358 on July 30, though death reports generally lag weeks after infections and even longer after hospitalizations.
Currently, 58% of Americans 12 years and older are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC’s data tracker.
Read: Global Covid cases top 197mn as Delta variant presents new challenges
However, people are “getting the message” and more are rolling up their sleeves amid the threat of the delta variant, according to the director of the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Francis Collins said on CNN’s “State of the Union” that vaccinations are up 56% in the U.S. in the last two weeks.
Louisiana, which has the most new cases per capita among states in the past 14 days, has seen vaccinations up threefold over that period, Collins said.
“That’s what desperately needs to happen if we are going to get this delta variant put back in its place, because right now it’s having a pretty big party in the middle of the country,” Collins said.
Collins also said that even with the prevalence of the delta variant, the shots are working “extremely well” and reduce a person’s risk of serious illness and hospitalization “25-fold.” The guidance for vaccinated people to start wearing masks indoors again in certain places with worsening outbreaks, he said, is mostly meant to protect unvaccinated and immunocompromised people.
The CDC has also recommended indoor mask-wearing for all teachers, staff, students and visitors at schools nationwide, regardless of vaccination status.
'Moderate, severe forms predominant for Delta strain of Covid'
Patients infected with the Delta strain of Covid-19 are likely to develop moderate or severe symptoms, and mild or symptomless cases of the disease are becoming rarer, a senior Russian scientist said Sunday.
"In case of the Delta variant of the infection, the latent period is shorter as the virus has become more contagious. Patients are now developing moderate and severe forms of the disease more often, while mild and asymptomatic ones are getting rarer," said Alexander Gorelov, deputy director of the Russian sanitary watchdog's Central Research Institute of Epidemiology.
"The treatment of such patients requires more time and effort, and this affects the overall statistics, leading to a conclusion that the disease lasts longer," he said.
Read: 'Different levels of antibodies needed for protection from Covid strains'
"The basic reproduction number – showing contagiousness, or how many persons on average can become infected by one carrier before the diagnosis is made – has multiplied by 2-2.5 times. It used to be 1-2, but now it is reaching 5-6," the expert added.
"Only mass vaccination can break this chain of transmissions and help us prevent the emergence of new variants of the infection that can be even more dangerous," Alexander said.
Read: Knowing your Covid symptoms can help to make informed decisions
The Delta variant of Covid-19 was first detected in India last October.
Earlier, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences reported that this version of the virus is capable of infecting people even after inoculation with the Covaxin and Covishield vaccines used in India. The Delta Plus version of this strain is considered to be even more contagious.
Knowing your Covid symptoms can help to make informed decisions
Although Covid-19 can cause a range of symptoms for around two weeks, the type, order and progression of these indications can vary from case to case and person to person.
The type, severity, and progression of symptoms shape how the virus affects a person's daily life. Some people may experience no symptoms at all, while others will need to seek immediate medical attention.
Two periods of symptoms
Symptoms usually begin 2 to 14 days after a person catches the virus, most commonly after four to five days.
Most people will experience mild to moderate symptoms, including flu or cold, during this period, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
However, studies suggest the first Covid-19 symptom to develop is likely to be fever, which is a temporary increase in body temperature and different from influenza, where the first symptom is typically a cough, according to a 2020 study in Frontiers in Public Health.
Read: Coronavirus symptoms: What are they and how do I protect myself
Next, Covid-19 may cause a cough, sore throat, and body aches or headaches.
The Frontiers in Public Health study suggests that Covid-19 could then cause nausea and vomiting, which would develop sooner than it would in similar respiratory infections, such as MERS or SARS.
In severe cases, Covid-19 can require hospitalisation. This typically occurs after seven days from the onset of symptoms, a 2020 study in The Lancet suggested when the delta variant was yet to emerge.
Some people will experience acute respiratory distress syndrome after nine days. This is where the lungs fail to provide the body with sufficient oxygen. Around 20% to 42% of people hospitalised with Covid-19 experience this condition, according to the CDC.
In severe cases, doctors may admit people to an intensive care unit (ICU) around 10 days after symptom onset. Around 26% to 32% of people hospitalised with Covid-19 will require treatment in an intensive care unit.
Also, Covid-19 symptoms could include tiredness, loss of taste or smell, diarrhoea and nasal congestion, according to the CDC.
Some people will experience severe symptoms, such as shortness of breath, confusion, chest pain or pressure, and difficulty moving or talking, too.
People who experience these symptoms must seek immediate medical attention.
Duration
The average recovery time was 16 days after infection; however, it will vary from case to case, according to a 2021 study in The Lancet.
Some symptoms may take longer to go away. For example, loss of taste and smell can last for weeks or months, according to the CDC.
Read: Three die with Covid-19 symptoms in Satkhira
Communicability of the virus
Most people can be around other people after 10 days since their symptoms first appeared, as long as they have not experienced fever for 24 hours and other symptoms are improving, as per the CDC.
People with severe Covid-19 symptoms or weakened immune systems may need to isolate themselves for longer. The CDC recommends up to 20 days of isolation after symptoms first occur in these cases. However, a doctor may recommend a different duration, depending on the case.
People with a positive test result but without Covid-19 symptoms are still infectious and should self-isolate for 10 days after the date of the test.
Long-term effects
Most people will experience no long-term effects from Covid-19.
However, some people may experience long Covid – also known as long-haul Covid. This is where symptoms persist for several weeks or months. The duration of time that symptoms must persist in long Covid varies.
However, the CDC says, symptoms lasting four or more weeks should constitute long Covid. It can include any Covid-19 symptoms and can occur in people who experienced mild, moderate, or severe symptoms.
Delta variant symptoms
There are many variants of SARS-CoV-2 that can cause Covid. Each variant is the result of a random mutation of the original virus.
The main variant of concern now in Bangladesh, and indeed worldwide, is the Delta variant. This variant spreads more quickly than the original virus, increasing the number of hospitalisations or deaths.
The variant is believed by the World Health Organization to be 50% more transmissible and might become the dominant form of the virus in the next few months.
Former Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research director Dr AM Zakir Hussain said, "The Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 is very different in many ways from its earlier variants. It shows symptoms like a mild cold, runny nose and mild fever with head and body aches. The variant's incubation period is four days – one or two days shorter than the earlier variants."
"Delta's rate of multiplication is faster, and volume in the nose is higher. It can directly go to the lungs. The variant's spike is 75% efficient in sticking to its docking site in human host cells in comparison to the Alpha variant's 50%."
"So, the variant causes higher infections, overt manifestations and deaths. Due to similarities with common colds and fevers, patients take a relatively long time to understand if they are suffering from a seasonal cold or not and seek medical attention late. The other reason for high deaths from the variant is the paucity of ICUs. Vaccines are less effective in preventing second or third time infection from the Delta variant," he added.
Warning signs
Mild to moderate cases of Covid-19 may not require immediate medical attention. However, some Covid-19 cases cause severe symptoms, which typically emerge after around a week. People with these symptoms must seek immediate medical attention.
It is critical to contact a health professional for symptoms that include difficulty in breathing, chest pain or pressure, confusion, difficulty in remaining conscious, discoloured skin, lips, or nails, according to the CDC.
Man dies while waiting in a long line to give Covid sample, says doctor
A man, who was waiting in a long queue to give his samples for Covid test, collapsed and declared dead at Brahmanbaria General Hospital on Wednesday, a doctor and his family said.
The deceased was identified as Iqbal, 43, son of Shahidul of Bihair village in Sadar upazila.
Read: Covid-19 sample collection from home at only Tk 500
According to Iqbal’s family he had been suffering from fever and cold for the past one week.
On Wednesday, he went to BMA building of Brahmanbaria General Hospital for Covid test.
At one stage, Iqbal lost his consciousness and fell on the floor while standing in a long queue.
Read: icddr,b opens sample collection centre at Dhanmondi
Later he was taken to the emergency section of the hospital where the doctors declared him dead.
Solaiman Mia, duty doctor of the hospital, said “The man has been standing in the long queue to provide his samples for Covid test but he suddenly collapsed and died.”
People find 'easy excuses' to defy lockdown in Dhaka
People continue to venture out with families and friends in the capital defying the lockdown rules even though Bangladesh recorded the highest daily rise in its Covid-19 death toll on Tuesday.
There was nothing unique on day six (Wednesday) of the ongoing strict lockdown as people were seen in the capital moving without emergency reasons with private cars and rickshaws plying everywhere.
Read: Dhaka finds new normal amid lockdown, arrests
Dhaka wore almost a normal look with an increased number of vehicles and people on the streets. Only the movement of public transport remained suspended as per the government restrictions.
With the spike in Covid cases, hospitals in cities and districts are getting overwhelmed with Covid patients but the lockdown restrictions are largely ignored.
Visiting different areas, the UNB correspondent saw the increased movement of people in different areas of the city including Kakrail, Malibagh, Shegunbagicha, Dhamondi, Mohammadpur, Shahbagh, Kataban and Farmgate.
Even people were seen gossiping on roads and moving from one place to another without wearing masks.
Read: 403 arrests on day 1 prove lockdown back in earnest
Talking to UNB, traffic inspector of Mohakhali area Asaduzzamn said the pressure of vehicles increased today compared to the last few days.
“In some areas, traffic control is needed due to a rise in the number of vehicles,” he said.
When police stop vehicles at check-posts, passengers show various causes for coming out of home,including banking work, hospitalization of patients and vaccination, he said.
“We’re filing cases and realising fines from those who cannot show a valid reason for going outdoors but people are coming out despite all this,” he added.
Akhter Ahmed, a traffic sergeant of Uttara, said the number of vehicles is increasing every day.
As the country battles a brutal wave of pandemic, Bangladesh logged record-high 258 Coronavirus-related deaths in 24 hours till Tuesday morning, shattering the record of 247 single-day deaths a day before.
The country has been seeing nearly 200 deaths every day for the past two weeks and breaking records of daily cases and deaths almost every other day.
Besides, 14,925 more people came out Covid positive after the test of 52,478 samples, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The country saw the highest-ever 15,192 Covid cases on Monday.
With the new numbers, the death tally from Covid-19 reached 19,779 today while the caseload mounted to 1,194,752.
Cumilla sees record 836 Covid cases, 10 more also die
Cumilla on Tuesday reported its highest single-day spike of 836 new Covid cases, while the district's corona death toll rose to 672 with 10 fresh deaths in 24 hours.
"Of the latest deaths, six were men and four women. They were aged between 35 and 80 years," District Civil Surgeon Dr Mir Mobarak Hossain told UNB.
Read: Covid: Cumilla sees 5 deaths, 92 new cases in 24 hours
On the other hand, the new cases have pushed up the district's Covid tally to 24,665. The fresh cases have taken the positivity rate to 36.6% when the WHO recommends below 5% for an area.
18 more die in Barishal division as Covid havoc continues
Barishal division has logged 18 new Covid related deaths in the past 24 hours, health officials said on Monday morning.
Of them, 10 died at Sher-E-Bangla Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH), 1 in Patuakhali and 7 in Barguna.
Read: Barishal logs 13 new Covid deaths
Besides, 841 people have tested positive for Covid in the division in the past 24 hours, the officials said.
Of the fresh Covid cases in the division,382 have been identified in Barisal district alone. So far, 12,684 people have been infected with Covid-19 in the district.
Read: Barishal division logs 19 new Covid deaths
So far, some 29,752 active patients have been identified in the division and 17,964 of them have recovered.
Divisional Health Director Dr Basudev Kumar Das said that 428 patients have died of Covid-19 in the division so far.
According to SBMCH authorities, 47 more patients were admitted to the hospital in 24 hours till Monday morning.
Besides, 283 Covid patients are currently undergoing treatment at the corona unit of SBMCH.