Covid-19 patients shopping for Eid in Satkhira

The situation in Satkhira district has suddenly taken a turn for the worse as 24 people were found infected with the novel coronavirus on Sunday. Prior to this, the district had been handling coronavirus prevention measures pretty well.

Moreover, 23 patients infected with Covid-19 were out shopping for Eid instead of staying in quarantine.

Earlier on May 1, some 24 brick kiln workers returned from Narayanganj to Debhata upazila on a truck. They were placed in quarantine at the Debhata Khan Bahadur Ahsanullah College, where one of the young men tested positive for Covid-19.

Debhata police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Biplob Kumar Saha said although the workers were quarantined after returning to Debhata, they were all let go on May 14, except the worker who had tested positive.

But samples collected from all of the released workers came back positive for coronavirus on Sunday afternoon, said Satkhira Civil Surgeon Md Hussein Safayat.

The homes of all victims are being locked down, according to police.

Mahmudul Hasan Shawon, a resident of Debhata upazila, said that after being released from quarantine, the workers went around Eid shopping for their families.

Debhata Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sajia Afrin said it was unfortunate that the patients were roaming around, avoiding the local administration's attention.

She added that if the deputy commissioner advises, those unions where coronavirus has spread will be locked down.