Reza Mahmud :
The country has witnessed the overall Covid-19 positivity rate once again above the 13 percent after nearly one and a half month.
Public health experts said, the Indian variant is responsible for aggressive spread of infection across the country.
They also blamed delaying steps on imposing restriction in the bordering districts.
Data from the Directorate General of Health Services showed that Khulna division on the top of the list with 38.92pc covid positivity rate for in the last 24 hours till Thursday.
The rate was 31.25pc in Rangpur division and 18.28pc in Barisal division within the 24-hour span, making them the second and third highest affected divisions respectively.
The single-day infection rate on Wednesday was 36.05 pc in Khulna division.
The data showed that Rajshahi division logged the highest number of cases of 815 infections on the same span after testing 5,110 samples.
When contacted, Dr. Md. Qaiyum Talukder, District Civil Sergion of Rajshahi told The New Nation on Friday, “The number of infection is on rise in Rajshahi district. It was about 20pc infection on Thursday. We are trying to make the people conscious about the situation and to follow the health safety measures.”
He said if the people follow the safety rules, the infection rate would be curbed soon. But the breaching of the safety measures may make the situation more tearful.
Public Health Expert Dr. Lenin Chowdhury told The New Nation that the delaying restriction on bordering districts let the Indian variant of the covid virus bearers to travel it to Dhaka. Later the infection spread across the country.
Dr. Zahid Nazrul Chowdhury Civil Surgeon Chapainawabgonj dist told The New Nation on Friday, “We have imposed lockdown in the district on May 25 after detecting 62 pc of infection rate here.”
He said after long lockdown, the infection rate on Friday was 19pc while it was 20 pc on Thursday.
The statement of the Civil Surgeon showed that lockdown plays a vital role to curb the virus.
When contacted, Professor Dr. M. Muzaherul Huq, former Advisor of the World Health Organisation told The New Nation, “Government must have a decision about when lockdown will be imposed in a union, upazilla or district.
Civil surgeon of the district will then advise the local authority to impose lockdown and other restrictions as well as medical measures.”
He said a prior preparation should always be taken for contact tracing, quarantine, isolation and treatment.
“The authority should not run behind Corona, rather should be ahead with all precautionary and other measures,” the expert said.
Public health experts said also that a strategic plan and preparation are necessary to combat the Corona situation in the country.
The local authorities must keep them prepared. Any delay in preparation and management to combat Corona will lead to more sufferings and casualties they warned.
