Suspected Covid-19 patients also to be tested for dengue

Bangladesh confirmed eight more deaths from the novel coronavirus, and 636 new cases of the virus, in the 24 hour period from Friday 12pm to Saturday 12pm.

All of the recently-deceased Covid-19 patients are male.

With this, "The death toll from the deadly virus has risen to 214 and the number of total infections stands at 13,770," Additional Director General of Health Directorate Professor Dr Nasima Sultana stated at an online briefing on Saturday.

"Around 5,247 samples were collected in that 24-hour period and 5,465 were tested in 35 labs," she added.

Citing a notice from the health ministry, she said that all suspected Covid-19 patients will also undergo testing for dengue.

"The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has instructed all districts and thana health complexes to conduct dengue tests on suspected Covid-19 patients, as both diseases have some common symptoms," Dr Nasima Sultana said.

She pointed out that all health complexes already have a dengue treatment programme in place from last year, and they have been provided with dengue test kits too.

During the briefing, Dr Nasima further said, "313 patients have recovered from the virus during that time, increasing the total number of people who recovered to 2,414."

"The authorities placed 196 new individuals suspected of having Covid-19 into isolation – bringing the total to 2,017 after 1,043 people left isolation. The country is capable of accommodating 8,634 people at 601 isolation wards and 30,955 people at 615 institutional quarantine facilities."

Analysing the division-wise infection rate, Dhaka division is still in the lead with 9,177 patients, including 58.28 percent in Dhaka city.

Data recorded in seven other divisions shows: 576 Covid-19 patients are in Chattogram (5.45 percent), 400 in Mymensingh (3.78 percent), 263 in Rangpur (2.49 percent), 211 in Khulna (2 percent), 163 in Sylhet (1.54 percent), 153 in Rajshahi (1.45 percent) and 130 in Barishal (1.23 percent).

"Considering the data of patients diagnosed with Covid-19 in Bangladesh, some 17.5 percent have recovered and 1.5 percent have died till date," Dr Nasima said.

The novel coronavirus has killed 276,386 people globally and infected 4,027,110 so far.