258 more Covid deaths
Vaccination is going to begin at union levels from 7 August
Bangladesh reported the highest ever deaths from Covid-19 as 258 people died of the virus in 24 hours until Tuesday 8am.
Like the first wave of Covid-19 pandemic, infections and deaths are on the rise alarmingly in Gazipur, Narsingdi, Narayanganj, Cumilla and Chattogram alongside the border districts.
To prevent infection and death, the government is going to start vaccination at the union levels from 7 August.
Anyone can get vaccinated after going to the centre with their national identity card.
After a meeting with senior government officials at the Secretariat on Tuesday, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told reporters that the ongoing lockdown will continue until 5 August to stem Covid-19 infection.
It was not possible to entertain the request of the owners of the industrial establishments to relax the lockdown, he added.
The minister also said those who do not have NID will also be vaccinated by bringing them under registration in a special way. Local people's representatives, leaders and activists of different political parties and religious leaders should be involved in this inoculation programme. Law enforcers will oversee vaccination activities.
Asaduzzaman Khan said all have to follow hygiene rules and must wear masks. Family members of the frontline fighters, who are 18 years old, will be vaccinated.
During the meeting, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said 90% of people over the age of 50 did not get vaccinated. All citizens at this age group must be vaccinated as the infection rate of them is 75 %.
"Now vaccination is going to start at the union level. We will also start it at the ward level when more vaccines will be available," he also said.
According to the meeting sources, the lockdown may not be lifted on 5 August. Restrictions may be relaxed step by step depending on the situation.
During the 24 hours period, 14,925 people tested positive for the virus.
In the same period, a record number of 52,478 samples were tested in 639 labs across the country.
With the latest additions, the death toll reached 19,779 and the case tally increased to 11,94,752.
IEDCR adviser Dr M Mushtuq Husain told the Business Standard that infections and deaths might increase further in places where there is more crowd, and more movement of people. Now the infection will increase in the cities. Infections are now on the rise in Gazipur, Narayanganj, Dhaka and Chattogram.
Gazipur-Narsingdi-Comilla see sharp rise of infections
On Tuesday, the country's positivity rate was 28.44%. But it was 53.46% in Gazipur, 37.30% in Narsingdi, 39.10% in Manikganj, 35.54% in Comilla and 38.65% in Chattogram.
Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control And Research (IEDCR) says districts with positive rates of 10% and above are considered "high risk" zones, while those with 5-9% "medium risk" zones and those below 5% as "low risk" zones.
Dr ANM Mizanur Rahman, Covid unit Focal Person of 100-bed District Hospital, Narsingdi, told the Business Standard that in the last two weeks, Covid infections increased in Narsingdi. On Tuesday, 109 people were admitted to its 80-bed covid ward. The day before, it was 115.
"We have stopped admitting new patients as there are no beds and it is not possible to provide oxygen supply to more patients."
Dr ANM Mizanur Rahman also said every day at least 40-50 new patients are coming for admission. "We referred them to Dhaka after initial treatment. We are trying to increase the number of beds by 10."
Dr ANM Mizanur Rahman said there is no ICU facility in Narsingdi Hospital. Most of the patients who come to the hospital now are from rural areas and non-vaccinated. They are coming to the hospital in critical condition. Deaths are on the rise due to their inability to provide ICU support.
Dr Mir Mobarak Hossain, Civil Surgeon, Comilla told The Business Standard, infection is on the rise in Comilla as well as across the country.
Professor Nazrul Islam, noted virologist and member of the National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19, told TBS that healthcare measures is mainly Dhaka-centric. Due to this death is more outside Dhaka.
The government is planning to give the vaccine at the union level. It would be better to do it. However, immediate steps must be taken to reduce infections and deaths, he added.