Deaths with Covid-19 symptoms more than thrice the reported counts

The death cases from Covid-19 – reported by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) – are less than one third of the number of people who died with novel coronavirus symptoms.

According to a report by the Centre for Genocide Studies of Dhaka University, 929 persons have died with Covid-19 symptoms from March 8 to May 9.  But according to the DGHS, 283 people have died from Covid-19, while 18,863 people have tested positive for the virus till May 14. 

In four graveyards and one cremation ground in Dhaka city, funerals of 355 bodies were held. Among these, 237 died from Covid-19 while the rest died from the coronavirus symptoms.

Md Asaduzzaman, assistant social welfare official (region-3) at the Nagar Bhaban, said, "Among the people who died from Covid-19 and who died with similar symptoms, 191 were buried in Khilgaon Taltola graveyard, 90 in Rayerbazar graveyard, two in Azimpur graveyard and two in Mirpur Buddhijibi graveyard,"

Besides, funerals of 35 people who died from Covid-19 and 35 others who had the similar symptoms were held at the Postogola cremation ground, said the Amaresh Mondol, the cremation ground's supervisor. 

Nasima Sultana, acting director general of the DGHS, said, "If someone dies from the novel coronavirus, a death report is issued accordingly, and the body is buried by showing the report. We have that data."

"But if someone dies at home after getting infected with the novel coronavirus and his or her family does not report it, we do not register it as a coronavirus death. We also sometimes get negative results for the novel coronavirus after testing samples from a deceased's body," she added.

When asked if there is any gap in collecting data related to the novel coronavirus deaths, she said, "We will look into the matter."

Meanwhile, 133 patients, who were admitted to the Covid-19 unit of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), have died from May 2 to May 13, said the hospital morgue sources.

Among them, 23 were confirmed Covid-19 cases, while the rest were suspected novel coronavirus patients.

Sources at coronavirus unit of the DMCH said currently, there are 189 patients in the unit, 10 of them are under intensive care. 

Sources said, more than 1,200 patients got admitted to the unit from May 2 to May 14. Many of them have recovered and returned home while some others left the hospital without informing anyone.