Covid-19 in Bangladesh: First wave yet to end but fears grow over second wave | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • TBS Graduates
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Tech
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Tuesday
October 03, 2023

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • TBS Graduates
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Tech
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 03, 2023
First wave yet to end but fears grow over second wave

Covid-19 in Bangladesh

Tawsia Tajmim
20 September, 2020, 10:15 pm
Last modified: 21 September, 2020, 10:32 am

Related News

  • No mercy if 2013-14 like arson terrorism happens before polls: PM
  • Democracy must continue in Bangladesh at any cost: PM
  • PM to inaugurate 4 mega projects this month
  • PM reaches London from Washington DC
  • Why do they suddenly want to impose visa restrictions on us, PM asks 

First wave yet to end but fears grow over second wave

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, on Sunday, asked everyone to bolster preparations as the Covid-19 situation may worsen in the upcoming winter

Tawsia Tajmim
20 September, 2020, 10:15 pm
Last modified: 21 September, 2020, 10:32 am
Brian Stauffer Illustration for Foreign Policy
Brian Stauffer Illustration for Foreign Policy

Many countries – such as France, Spain, Austria, Poland, the Netherlands, England, and South Africa – are witnessing a resurgence in Covid-19 cases even after having brought the public health crisis under control.

In Bangladesh, however, the first wave of the novel coronavirus infection has yet to end.

The death rate from Covid-19 is steadily increasing here. Evidenced by the fact that the country's death rate was 1.37% from September 1 to 5, but it now stands at 1.42% in the latest data published by the Directorate General of health Services (DGHS) on Sunday.

Although the Covid-19 infection rate has been declining in recent weeks, it is doing so very slowly. As a result, there is doubt among experts about when the first wave will end. Meanwhile, concerns have already begun over a possible second wave.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked everyone to bolster their preparations as the Covid-19 situation may worsen in the upcoming winter.

A total of 1,544 new infections and 26 deaths were recorded on Sunday, taking the total number of people infected to 348,916 and deaths toll to 4,939, according to the DGHS.

Speaking to The Business Standard, a member of the government's Public Health Expert Advisor's Group Prof Dr MA Foyez said, "The first wave is not over yet. The novel coronavirus is not completely abolished, that is why when the first wave is over, there is a risk of a second wave."

A second wave will occur if proper measures are not taken to deal with the infections, and hygiene practices are not followed.

Prof Dr Foyez, also a former director general of the DGHS, continued, "In order to control the spread of infection, Covid-19 patients should be kept isolated and contact tracing should be carried out. 

"The government should collect data on why some people are not following proper hygiene rules, and it should solve this particular issue on the basis of the collected data," he said. 

Dr M Mushtuq Hussain, Covid-19 pandemic control consultant at the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), pointed out that not just a second, but there is a risk of a third or fourth wave too.

He further said, "Infections are on the rise in our neighboring country India. This is why our risk of infection is higher. In our country, the infection rate was above 20% for two and a half months, then it came down to 15% in September."

"The infection rate has remained stable, in one position, for several days. The first wave has persisted for a long period in our country, and if proper measures are not taken to mitigate the spread of infection, a second wave will come," he added.

Dr Mushtuq said there is no alternative to the identification, isolation and quarantine of patients to further reduce the infection rate. 

Stating that public health campaigns must be strengthened, he continued, "In all cases, the community needs to be involved and empowered. In the early stages, people could be instructed when they were scared, but now after six months, the government has to work intensively." 

"By mobilising the people and involving local public representatives, a sustainable result can be obtained," he said.

Under the circumstances, The Public Health Advisor's Group on August 31 recommended, to the government, a series of measures necessary to suppress the transmission of Covid-19. 

Prof Liakot Ali, a member of public health advisors' group told the Business Standard, "The wave of infection will increase in the winter. The main problem in winter is ventilation. The windows are kept closed, so transmission will increase."

Plus, in winter, there is a decrease in humidity, which is connected with factors such as droplets and aerosols, he added. 

He called for ramping up testing, making wearing masks compulsory and ensuring institutional quarantine. "The virus cannot be contained by ignoring the public health measures," Prof Ali said.

How different countries are planning for a second wave

People in England, who break new rules requiring them to self-isolate if they have been in contact with someone infected with Covid-19, will face a fine of up to 10,000 pounds ($12,914), Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Saturday.

The rules will apply from September 28 to anyone in England who tests positive for the virus or is notified by public health workers that they have been in contact with someone infectious.

According to a Guardian report published on Sunday, Germany and South Korea were among the fastest to get their testing and tracing systems operating on a large scale, allowing them to identify where and how the disease was spreading. 

Germany tested everyone returning from holidays over the summer, minimising imported infections.

The region around the Spanish capital is bracing for a return of controls, although the government is trying to avoid calling them lockdowns. Restrictions will apply to areas with more than 1,000 cases per 10,000 people.

They will affect nearly a million people and will effectively limit movement to work, medical and educational reasons.

Targeted regional lockdowns depend, however, on a track and trace capacity that lets authorities see where and how the virus is spreading.

South Africa has launched a new mobile application to fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and prevent a possible second wave of the virus, the country's Department of Health said on Wednesday.

Top News

First wave / second wave / Covid -19 / Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Representational image. Photo: Collected
    Bangladesh working on procuring dengue vaccine: DGHS director general
  • The "peace and development rally" of ruling Awami League started in Savar's Aminbazar at 3:00pm on Tuesday (3 October). Photo: TBS
    AL’s peace rally begins in Aminbazar
  • Hans Ellegren, permanent secretary of the Royal Academy of Sciences, flanked by Eva Olsson and Mats Larsson, members, announces this year's Nobel Prize winners in Physics, at the Royal Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, Sweden October 3, 2023.
    Agostini, Krausz and L'Huillier win 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics

MOST VIEWED

  • Etihad Airways shuts Dhaka service 29 Oct
    Etihad Airways shuts Dhaka service 29 Oct
  • Representational image. Photo: Collected
    Why Bangladesh’s reserves tumble, Sri Lanka’s improve
  • Big drops in remittance, exports make reserves struggle harsher
    Big drops in remittance, exports make reserves struggle harsher
  • Illustration: TBS
    Why do Bangladeshi universities fare so poorly in global rankings?
  • Shahjahan Bhuiyan’s parents and two out of his three siblings passed away when he was behind bars. He missed all the funerals.  
Photo: Nayem Ali
    Hangman Shahjahan Bhuiyan: Life after 60 executions and 44 years in prison
  • Photo: TBS
    British American Tobacco asked to pay Tk2,054cr in 'evaded tax'

Related News

  • No mercy if 2013-14 like arson terrorism happens before polls: PM
  • Democracy must continue in Bangladesh at any cost: PM
  • PM to inaugurate 4 mega projects this month
  • PM reaches London from Washington DC
  • Why do they suddenly want to impose visa restrictions on us, PM asks 

Features

The modern yet minimalistic decor trend beautifully marries the sleekness of contemporary design with the simplicity and functionality of minimalism. Photo: Collected

Modern yet minimalistic decor trends for home and interior design

1h | Habitat
The graveyard is designed as not just a storeroom for dead bodies, rather a green space, that would serve both the deceased and the living beings. Photo: Mike Kelley

Azimpur Graveyard: Landscaping for the deceased and the living

1h | Habitat
In this age of modernity, the mailbox is not very important; emptiness and neglect are their destiny. Photo: Noor-A-Alam

The red mailboxes in DU are feeling blue

7h | Features
The Dassler brothers before the fallout. Rudolf (left) and Adi (right). At the center is track and field athlete Josef Waitzer who helped the brothers make Dassler shoes in the beginning. Photo credit: Adi & Käthe Dassler Memorial Foundation

Adidas and Puma: How a sibling rivalry gave rise to two giants of the sports world

19h | Features

More Videos from TBS

How was Bangladesh's first World Cup experience!

How was Bangladesh's first World Cup experience!

1h | TBS SPORTS
How Adidas and Puma were created from a dispute between two brothers

How Adidas and Puma were created from a dispute between two brothers

2h | TBS Stories
Why is Bangladesh struggling when Sri Lanka's reserves have improved?

Why is Bangladesh struggling when Sri Lanka's reserves have improved?

4h | TBS Economy
Loan fraud has plagued Google Play Store and the Apple Store

Loan fraud has plagued Google Play Store and the Apple Store

4h | TBS Stories
EMAIL US
[email protected]
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2023
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - [email protected]

For advertisement- [email protected]