‘The youth are most infected with Covid-19 in Bangladesh’

The country's youth have so far been infected the most with novel coronavirus, said Professor Nasima Sultana, additional director general (admin) at the Directorate General of Health Services, yesterday.

"Among the infected patients until April 22, the highest number of infection rate was recorded in the age group 21-30 with 24 percent, followed by age group 31-40 with 22 percent, 51-50 with 18 percent, 51-60 with 15 percent, 60 above with 10 percent, 11-20 with 8 percent, and under 11 with three percent," she was addressing a virtual briefing.

In the briefing, Health Minister Zahid Maleque confirmed seven more deaths from the novel coronavirus and 414 new cases of infection in the last 24 hours – between 8 am Wednesday and 8 am yesterday.

With this, the death toll from the deadly virus rose to 127 and the number of total infections stood at 4,186. Some 16 patients cured during this time.

Sultana said five were male and two were female among the deceased and all of them were from Dhaka.

"Four of the deceased were aged above 60, two between 51 and 60 and one was aged between 41 and 50," she confirmed.

She added until yesterday morning, 58 districts of the country have reported new Covid-19 infection, including three new districts in Khulna in the last 24 hours.

"Within one month, the number of infected people has increased exponentially in Dhaka with around 85 percent,'' she added.

Nasima listed ten areas of Dhaka city that have reported the highest rate of infection: Rajarbagh, Mohammadpur, Lalbagh, Jatrabari, Bangshal, Chawkbazar, Mitford, Uttara, Tejgaon and Mohakhali.

Mentioning a drastic rise from 6 patients to 4,186 in a month, Dr Nasima said, "Some 85.26 percent of the total infected people are from Dhaka division, including 45.51 percent in Dhaka city and 39.75 percent outside the city."

In the briefing, it was mentioned that in the last 24 hours, 21 institutions collected 3,921 samples, which is 10.34 percent higher than the previous day, and 3,416 samples were tested, which is 28.5 percent higher than that in the previous day.

Nasima Sultana said the authorities took 123 new suspected Covid-19 patients into isolation, bringing the total to 995 after 622 were discharged.

"Currently, 84,333 people are in quarantine, including 77,958 in home quarantine and 6,375 in institutional quarantine, after 84,017 were released," she added further.

Addressing the issue, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said the ministry took initiatives to appoint 2,000 doctors and 6,000 nurses as per the instructions of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

"We have prepared some hospitals for the treatments in the wake of the growing number of novel coronavirus patients. Meanwhile, many doctors and nurses have tested positive and many are in quarantine. In this circumstance, the premier has instructed us to appoint more doctors and nurses," the minister said.

He also hoped that the appointments will bring a significant change in the current situation of the health sector.

Maleque mentioned Bangladesh was in a better condition than many countries as at the 45th day of infection, Bangladesh lost 120 patients whereas within the same period around 11,000 people died in Italy, 24,000 in the USA, 10,000 in Spain.

The minister claimed there would be no special treatments for VIPs and wealthy patients.

"The government has taken no such step. Hospitals will operate the same for everyone and will provide the same treatment to everybody," he said.

"I urged all concerned not to give any statement without permission from the authorities because it creates confusion and is against the policy of the government," the minister added.

On Wednesday, several sources said Sheikh Russel Gastro Liver Institute and Hospital would treat VIPs and diplomats who test positive for the Covid-19.

Rejecting the rumours of hospitals' lockdown, the minister said, "The regular services of other hospitals will continue."

There is no shortage of medicine at the hospitals as the government's Essential Drugs Company Limited is providing medicines regularly, he added.

Reiterating the compulsory institutional quarantine for returnees from abroad, he said, "All who are coming from other countries will have to be in institutional quarantine as per the directives from the government."

Expressing his empathy for the infected frontline doctors and nurses in the country, the minister said the government would further appoint another 2,000 doctors and 6,000 nurses.

He further said necessary steps would be taken against companies who were producing and selling counterfeit masks and personal protective equipment in the country.