10,532 test positive, 136 die in 4 days since lockdown lifted
Deceased Covid-19 patients may be buried in family graveyards, or cremated, as per their respective religious rules
In the four days since the Covid-19 shutdown ended in the country, on May 30, a total 10,532 people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus while 136 others have died.
In the last 24 hours, 8am Tuesday to 8am Wednesday, a total 2,695 people were confirmed to have contracted Covid-19 and 38 were reported to have died of the deadly virus.
Meanwhile, the health directorate said deceased Covid-19 patients may be buried in family cemeteries.
Experts say the infection numbers are on the rise because the lockdown was not strictly followed.
Professor Nazrul Islam, former vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University and a virology expert, told The Business Standard the number of infections will increase further on the ninth of this month – when it will be 14 days after Eid-ul-Fitr.
The increase in numbers of patients due to the withdrawal of the general holiday will be understood after June 14, he also said.
"In order to reduce the number of infections, it is necessary to impose a strict lockdown in the areas where the number of infections is high," he added.
So far, Bangladesh has confirmed 55,140 cases, including 746 casualties.
In a regular health bulletin, Additional Director General of the Health Directorate Professor Nasima Sultana, on Wednesday, said, in the last 24 hours, 15,103 samples were collected and 12,510 were tested.
So far, 345,583 samples have been tested.
During these 24 hours, 480 people recovered from the virus – taking the total recovery to 11,590. During this time, the detection rate was 22.54 percent. The recovery rate against confirmed cases was 21.02 percent and mortality rate was 1.35 percent.
Professor Nasima Sultana said 26 men and 9 women died of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours.
Four of them were between the ages of 71 years and 80 years, 12 between 61 years and 70 years, 12 between 51 years and 60 years, five between 41 years and 50 years, three between 31 years and 40 years, and one was between 21 years and 30 years of age.
Of the deceased, 31 died at the hospital and five at home. One died before reaching the hospital.
Deceased Covid-19 patients may be buried in family graveyards
The bodies of the patients who have died of the virus may be buried and cremated according to their own religious rules, said the health directorate.
Professor Nasima Sultana said, as per the rules, the dead bodies may be buried or cremated after wrapping them in body bags or polythene bags.
"There is no need to bury the body in a separate cemetery," she said.
Professor Nasima said the World Health Organisation has found no evidence of Covid-19 spreading from dead bodies.
"It takes three to four hours to cremate or bury a corpse. After three hours, the virus is no longer effective in the corpse. That is why the virus does not spread from dead bodies," she also mentioned.
However, the bodies have to be cremated or buried carefully following the instructions of the health directorate, she concluded.