No new coronavirus (COVID-19) positive case was detected in the last 24 hours while no death was reported during the same period, according to Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).
“No new COVID-19 case was detected…. meaning the total number of positive cases stood at 48” IEDCR director Prof Meerjady Sabrina Flora told a virtual briefing at her Mohakhali office in Dhaka today.
Among the COVID-19 infected patients, four have recovered during the last 24 hours, the IEDCR director said adding since the novel coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the country, the number of recovered patients stood at 15.
“We observed that recovered COVID-19 infected patients have taken maximum 16 days for their recovery…. we have given treatments to the coronavirus infected patients as per their symptoms,” she said.
“Among the recovered patients, one has kidney ailments. We have provided kidney dialysis alongside other necessary treatments for his recovery,” Prof Flora added.
Since the confirmation of coronavirus positive cases in the country, five people died, the IEDCR sources said.
Prof Flora said, “IEDCR teams are collecting samples from different hospitals for confirming coronavirus cases…From now both government and private hospitals will send samples to IEDCR”.
“At the initial stage, IEDCR was performing COVID-19 tests… from now the government is expanding testing facilities for quick confirmation of the virus” she added.
Testing of collected samples is being carried out at Chattogram, she said adding, Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (BITID) at Faujdarhat in Chittagong is already starting testing of collected samples for quick conformation of coronavirus positive.
As part of precaution measures, Prof Flora urged the people to follow social distancing alongside maintaining individual hygienic habits to limit the spread of the COVID-19.
The IEDCR director also called upon the people to strictly follow the directives, particularly to stay at home, given by the organizations concerned to halt the spread of the disease.
At the press briefing, Dr Md Habibur Rahman, director(management information system) of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said Bangladesh has taken necessary preparation as per the instructions of the World Health Organization.
“We are expanding testing laboratory facilities at divisional levels… we hope that we would be able to carry out sample tests of COVID-19 at divisional levels within next 7 to 10 days”
“Primarily, the IEDCR do the COVID-19 tests, but if needed, the government would expand the diagnosis facility to across the country, the IEDCR director said.
“Area-based sample collection and testing facilities will be carried out across the country very soon for rapid confirmation coronavirus cases,” she said
In order to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the government has set up a coordinated control room in comprising different committees at Director General of Health Services, Prof Flora said these committees under the control room are working the round the clock to provide healthcare services to the people so that COVID-19 could not be spread.
Alongside the coordinated control room, the government has set a control room at the Prime Minister’s Office and another one has set up at the health ministry to curb the spread of the deadly virus.
“As part of the countrywide measures, we have set up control rooms at district levels to ensure quick access of the people to healthcare facilities” the IEDCR director added.
She said foreign countries including China and Singapore, different development partners and local companies and organizations are extending their helping hands through providing different protective equipment and hygienic materials for identifying coronavirus positive cases side by side containing the spread of the disease.
“At the initial stage, we were testing only foreign returnee…. now are expanding our examining areas. All potential groups of people including professionals, who have remained with public contacts, have been brought under testing facilities to detect COVID-19 cases.”
Prof Flora urged the people, who went to their village homes from Dhaka, to follow home quarantine for containing the spread of the deadly virus.
In Dhaka, the diagnosis facility is expanding to Gonoshasthaya Kendra, Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital, Dhaka Medical College and Hospital and Sir Salimullah Medical College and Hospital, she added.
“So far, we have tested samples of 1068 persons, of which 42 were tested in the last 24 hours. The number of total people, who were kept isolation, was 284… now 47 people have been kept in isolation, “Prof Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora said.
She urged to call only the two numbers – 01944333222, 10655 – which will connect the other toll free numbers.
“We have to avoid going outside, most importantly wherever there is a chance of coming in contact with unknown people,” she further said.
People can get their required COVID-19 related information through e-mail iedcrcovid-19@gmail.com and facebook account - Iedcr.
