News Desk :
Health experts have warned that the fourth wave of coronavirus will spread after Eid-ul-Azha if health rules are not followed.
According to them, the biggest crisis is the reluctance of people to take booster doses, reports Deutsche Welle.
As per government estimates, on June 20, the infection rate exceeded 10% with 873 cases and one death. After 12 days, the total number of victims on Saturday increased to 1,105 with six deaths.
In the last 12 days, a total of 19,587 people have been infected in the country with 28 people dying. So far, 19,76,787 people have been infected with coronavirus across the country with 19,160 deaths.
Prof Dr Kamrul Islam, former vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, said: “Coronavirus has once again spread to 110 countries around the world. In Bangladesh, the fourth wave started in Dhaka city but now it has spread to all the divisions and districts of the country.”
“Now, we have to follow the hygiene rules. Otherwise, it may spread to a bigger size at the time of Eid. The government has said it will make the mask mandatory again. But it is not being monitored,” he added.
The doctor further said that the cattle market is set up but no one is following the hygiene rules there.
“The concern is that the death toll is rising. The risk is higher for the elderly and those with low immunity. Now I see that no one wants to take the test. Not having the test despite having all the symptoms of coronavirus. As a result, the coronavirus is spreading faster through them,” the expert observed.
He urged everyone to take vaccines and booster doses of Covid-19.
He mentioned that the vaccines last from six months to a year. “Several countries around the world have started the fourth dose. We should also look at something more and think about the fourth dose.”
Vaccination against coronavirus started in Bangladesh on February 8 last year.
According to the latest data, so far more than 129 million people in the country have received the first dose of the vaccine while more than 120 million got two doses.
Besides, the booster dose has been taken by more than 20 million people which is 24.24% of the total population.
The government will start vaccinating children between the ages of five and 12 this July.
Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control
And Research (IEDCR) Adviser Mushtaq Hossain said: “We have already seen that the coronavirus is infecting people by challenging the vaccine. Now, those who are being attacked and dying are being attacked by the BA-5 subdivision.”
“Its ability to damage is high. Today (Saturday) the infection will decrease a little but I think the death rate will increase,” he continued.
“When the death from coronavirus three months ago came down to zero, we became careless,” he said, adding that the government and the general public are less interested in vaccines.
He regretted that responsible persons are also walking in public without masks, which is now bringing a new danger.
He said: “Eid is around the corner. The cattle markets are all set up. Hygiene must be followed here. Due to the Padma Bridge, the congestion of ferries may decrease. Even then, you have to follow the hygiene rules during Eid.”
Health experts said that the number of tests is now much less. The test should be extended a lot and should be free to understand the real picture.
They also urged the government to extend a helping hand to the poor, otherwise, they will not test.
