People in Bangladesh in general now show an attitude that the Covid-19 pandemic is currently over. But this is not so. True, after vaccination, people’s immunity has increased and the coronavirus has greatly weakened. The number of deaths has also reduced, but it does not mean that the pandemic is gone. In Bangladesh, after the winter, we have seen a gradual rise in Covid cases with a sudden shoot-up of cases during the second half of June, and on June 30 the government issued an order of enforcement of Covid health guidelines everywhere. But it has remained only an order.
Now the positivity rate has jumped to more than 15 per cent with an increase in the death toll. Even the day before yesterday, the Directorate General of Health Services reported 12 deaths from Covid-19, the highest after March 5 when 13 people died. More than 2000 new cases are registered in a single day.
Eid travel has begun and in the cattle markets all across the country, gathering of people is increasing. Therefore, it can be said with certainty that the country is very likely to see, after the Eid, the prevalence of the disease as it was during the peak periods of the pandemic. The positivity rate may well be above 20 per cent with more deaths everyday as a direct consequence of the increased gathering of people at cattle markets, stations, bus stoppages and launch terminals. Not to mention, the Eid-ul-Azha prayers on the Eid day at Eidgah and mosques. True, the figures of fatality from the disease is now small, thanks to the government’s vaccination programme. But there are still a great number of people who have not taken a single dose as yet or have failed to take the second or third booster dose. It is these people who are suffering more from the seriousness of the disease or dying than those who are vaccinated.
Therefore, it is very necessary that people should take health precautions and maintain the health guidelines of Covid-19. This applies to both those who have taken Covid vaccine and those who have not. Whenever outside, the people should wear facemasks. Still, the unvaccinated people have to be vaccinated urgently.
Health experts are right to point out that the cabinet should take steps so that their new directives issued on June 30 are strictly enforced. The cabinet must urge the law enforcers and other volunteers to implement the Covid health directives.
