DGHS concerned about Covid infections going up after Eid

Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Director General Abul Bashar Khurshid Alam, on Tuesday expressed concern about potential increase in Covid infections following Eid vacations.

"We are worried about whether infections will increase after Eid since public movement (leaving and entering Dhaka) has increased," .he said in a media briefing held at DGHS.

However, he also assured that the capacity of the country's health system has increased.

"Our capacity has increased. Many beds in Covid-dedicated hospital are still empty," he said.

The DGHS chief urged the public to be more cautious and warned that should public movement not decline, the third wave of Covid-19 might fall upon soon.

"If this continues, infections will not decrease," he added.

DGHS Additional Director General (planning and development), Prof Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora, called on all to say their Eid prayers maintaining hygiene rules.

"We have taken steps to prevent the spread of the infection through Indian truck drivers. We have set a time limit so that drivers do not have to spend the night in Bangladesh," she said.

Dr Nasima Sultana, DGHS additional director general (admin), said the authorities are trying to bring down the cost of Covid testing cost at private hospitals.

"The price for Covid-19 testing has been set by the private sector and there are efforts to reduce it further," she said.

Dr Nasima urged everyone to turn up for tests and emphasised increasing tests after the Eid holidays.