Reza Mahmud :
Daily infection rate of Covid-19 reached 14.12 percent on Saturday for which public health experts fear a third wave attack in the country.
“We fear third wave attack by the Covid-19 pandemic in the country as the positivity rate surged above 14 percent again after flowing under seven percent recently. The government should make the hospital management strong on emergency basis to prevent more fatalities,” Eminent Virologist Professor Dr. Nazrul Islam, former Vice-Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University told The New Nation on Saturday.
He said the health authorities should take emergency measures to ensure oxygen supplies as the 20 percent of the gas imported from India has been suspended now.
Earlier, Health Minister Zahid Maleque warned of a third wave attack if health safety rules ncluding wearing of face masks are ignored.
When contacted, Professor Dr. M. Muzaherul Huq, former Advisor of the World Health Organisation told The New Nation on Saturday, “The wave has ups and downs as well as static. It needs stringent measures by the government as well as whole hearted participation of our common people to prevent a probable third attack, as our medical facilities may not bear the consequences.”
The professor said, the Civil Surgeons of districts should be made responsible and accountable to manage Covid in districts by strengthening the clinical management and diagnostic facilities in District hospitals and upazilla health centers. “There are three ways to contain the pandemic. The first one is to involve our people into continuing health instructions of self distancing, wearing masks and hand sanitisining.
The 2nd measure is to take two doses of available vaccine in time, and the 3rd step is the responsibility of government to acquire the vaccine and produce vaccine locally. If all these can be planned and implemented we can contain the deadly disease within 12 to 18 months,” Professor Muzaherul Huq said.
Public health experts blamed the Indian variant for the sudden increase of the covid infection.
They have also accused the people’s apathy to the health safety measures.
The public health experts also blamed the government for delaying restriction in the bordering districts for spreading of Indian variant in the country.
Sources said, there are crises of ICUs in bordering districts’ hospitals exccept Rajshahi and Satkhira.
Health experts suggested ICUs in all the district level hospitals.
They have also suggested to make strong hospital management and to monitor those by DG Health.
The logistic supports should be given to all civil surgeons for effective management at the district and upazilla health complexes during present Covid situation and post Covid situation.
Professor Dr Abul Bashar Muhammad Khurshid Alam, DG of the DGHS could not be reached over cell phone to get his speech on this regard.
Earlier on April 3, the government announced a full lockdown across the country following a staggering rise in Covid-19 cases and deaths throughout March.
The infection rate reached to over 23 percent.
After a nearly seven-week lockdown, the country eased the restriction allowing to resume long-route bus, train and ferry services on May 25 when the covid infection was flowing below seven percent.
