Four new coronavirus cases detected in Bangladesh: IEDCR

Four new coronavirus (COVID-19) positive cases have been detected raising the total number to 48 while no death has been reported in the last 24 hours, according to Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).

“Four new COVID-19 cases including two physicians have been detected…. the total number of positive cases stood at 48” IEDCR director Prof Meerjady Sabrina Flora told a virtual briefing at her Mohakhali office here today.

Among the newly infected corona virus cases, two patients are in Dhaka and other two are outside of Dhaka, the IEDCR director said adding: “Health condition of them are normal.”

One newly infected aged is 20 to 30, one aged from 31 to 40, one aged from 41 to 50 while another one aged from 51 to 60, Prof Flora added.

Among the total coronavirus positive cases, 11 patients have recovered so far she said, adding that health conditions of other infected people are stable.

Since the confirmation of coronavirus positive cases in the country, five people died, the IEDCR sources said.

Prof Flora said, “IEDCR teams are collecting samples from different hospitals for confirming coronavirus cases…From now both government and private hospitals will send samples to IEDCR”.

“At the initial stage, IEDCR was only performing COVID-19 tests… from now the government is expanding testing facilities for quick confirmation of the virus ” she added.

Testing of collected samples is being carried out at Chattogram, she said adding, Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (BITID) at Faujdarhat in Chittagong is already starting testing of collected samples for quick conformation of coronavirus positive.

As part of precaution measures, Prof Flora urged the people to follow social isolation alongside maintaining individual hygienic habits to limit the spread of the COVID-19.

“Primarily, the IEDCR do the COVID-19 tests, but if needed, the government would expand the diagnosis facility to across the country, the IEDCR director said.

“Area-based sample collection and testing facilities will be carried out across the country very soon for rapid confirmation coronavirus cases,” she said.

In order to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the government has set up a coordinated control room in comprising different committee at Director General of Health Services, Prof Flora said these committees under the control room are working the round the clock to provide healthcare services to the people so that COVID-19 could not be spread.

Alongside the coordinated control room, the government has set a control room at the Prime Minister’s Office and another one has set up at the health ministry to curb the spread of the deadly virus.

“As part of the countrywide measures, we have set up control rooms at district and upazila levels to ensure quick access of the people to healthcare facilities” the IEDCR director added.

She said foreign countries including China and Singapore, different development partners and local companies and organizations are extending their helping hands through providing different protective equipment and hygienic materials for identifying coronavirus positive cases side by side containing the spread of the disease.

“At the initial stage, we were testing only foreign returnee…. now are expanding our examining areas. All potential groups of people including professionals, who have remained with public contacts, have been brought under testing facilities to detect COVID-19 cases.”

Prof Flora urged the people, who went to their village homes from Dhaka, to follow home quarantine for containing the spread of the deadly virus.

In Dhaka, the diagnosis facility is expanding to Gonoshasthaya Kendra, Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital, Dhaka Medical College and Hospital and Sir Salimullah Medical College and Hospital, she added.

“So far, we have tested samples of 1026 persons, of which 106 were tested in the last 24 hours,” Prof Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora said.

She urged to call only the two numbers – 01944333222, 10655 – which will connect the other toll free numbers.

“We have to avoid going outside, most importantly wherever there is a chance of coming in contact with unknown people,” she further said.

People can get their required COVID-19 related information through e-mail iedcrcovid-19@gmail.com and facebook account-Iedcr. (Source: BSS)