Antigen test likely to begin next week

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Staff Reporter :
Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Dr ABM Khurshid Alam has expressed the hope that the antigen-based test for coronavirus will begin in the country next week.
He came up with the hope while addressing a roundtable discussion on malaria on Saturday.
The rapid antigen test was approved over two months ago to detect more and more suspects as the number of PCR tests is insufficient in Bangladesh.
The Health Ministry issued a circular on September 17 in this regard.
The DGHS chief said the antigen test could not be introduced as yet due to complexities in the purchasing process. He said most of those are dying from coronavirus in the country had pre-existing complications.
Citing the daily death toll of 39 registered on November 17, Dr Khurshid Alam said 29 of them or 75 percent had already been suffering from various deadly diseases.
The second wave of coronavirus has already hit many countries around the world.
Bangladesh is also witnessing a rise in both daily cases and deaths over the last one week after an erratic lull for over two months.
Meanwhile, coronavirus has infected 589,032 people across the world in the last 24 hours till 10am on Sunday to take the total to 58,494,716.
Besides, virus-related deaths have jumped to 1,386,570, including 8,986 reported during the period, around the globe, according to data collated by tracking website Worldometer.
Bangladesh has so far confirmed 445,281 cases and 6,350 deaths from coronavirus.

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