Higher infections against lower tests alarming: Experts
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
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Tuesday
February 07, 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
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 07, 2023
Higher infections against lower tests alarming: Experts

Covid-19 in Bangladesh

Tawsia Tajmim
03 August, 2020, 07:00 pm
Last modified: 03 August, 2020, 09:18 pm

Related News

  • UNFPA and BRAC host knowledge dissemination event on Covid-19
  • The supply chain crisis opens door to resilience
  • Hong Kong says 'hello' to woo back visitors after Covid
  • US to end Covid-19 emergency declarations on 11 May
  • Covid remains a public health emergency, says WHO

Higher infections against lower tests alarming: Experts

The real Covid-19 scenario will be realised by August 15, but a higher infection rate denotes there are patients who are not being identified

Tawsia Tajmim
03 August, 2020, 07:00 pm
Last modified: 03 August, 2020, 09:18 pm
Representational image. Picture: Collected
Representational image. Picture: Collected

On the same day when Health Minister Zahid Maleque basks in the sun of pride, saying the government has "successfully contained" the coronavirus, the country ironically sees the record-breaking single-day infection rate.

In the last 24 hours, from Sunday 8am to Monday 8am, Bangladesh registered highest 31.91 percent infection rate (1,356 cases) testing a lower number of samples – 4,249, giving an ominous signal for the coming days, according to experts.

Meanwhile, the health minister, at a relief distribution programme in Manikganj sadar on Monday, said, "When heads of different states globally have been criticised over their failure to take up right decision amid the pandemic, we, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, have contained the coronavirus successfully."

However, the infection rate in Bangladesh has been fluctuating between 20 and 25 percent since June while the country posted the second highest daily infection rate at 25.23 percent on July 15.

Professor Nazrul Islam, a noted virologist and former vice-chancellor of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, told The Business Standard that a low infection against a low number of tests is a normal phenomenon.

"But low tests with higher infections mean that we are heading towards a terrible situation."

The real scenario will be realised by August 15, but a higher infection rate denotes there are Covid-19 patients who are not being identified, he added.

Professor Nazrul, also a member of the National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19, also said handling the pandemic in the country is like "walking on a ghost's feet" [going towards opposite direction].

Now looking at the infection rate, it is understood that tests have been done only in city areas. The actual pandemic picture in the country would have been available had the tests been well distributed across cities and villages, he further said.

The virologist reiterated that testing, tracing and isolation must be enhanced to control the situation, also suggesting that the village-town testing ratio needs to be fixed.

Bangladesh confirmed the first case of Covid-19 on March 8 and the first death 10 days later.

On Sunday last, the country stepped in the twenty-second week of Covid-19 outbreak.

M Mushtuq Husain, consultant, Covid-19 Pandemic Control, Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research, said the relaxation shown during the Eid festival has just begun paying off.

The higher infection rate against a lower number of test is not a good sign, he said, adding that although many have not been tested yet, the number of patients is increasing.

Mushtuq also said if someone with Covid-19 symptoms does not get tested, they should go for isolation.

To reduce the infection, free tests should be increased and sample collection from homes needs to be re-introduced, he opined.

He added that, without more tests and institutional isolation, it will not be possible to reduce the Covid-19 infection, which will further damage the economy.

Meanwhile, the number of tests is decreasing day by day. According to the data of the Directorate General of Health Services (DHGS), the number of daily tests regularly fluctuated between 15,000 and 18,000 after June 10 when 15,965 samples were tested.

On June 26, the highest 18,498 samples were tested in a single day. However, on July 3, the number suddenly dropped to 14,650. Now, it has come down to the 4000-mark.

The number of tests also dropped during the Eid-ul-Adha holidays. On Sunday last, only 3,684 samples were tested while the number was 8,802 on Saturday.

During Covid-19 daily bulletin on Monday, DGHS' Additional Director General Professor Nasima Sultana urged people to come to have themselves tested if they have symptoms of Covid-19.

She also said, without tests and detection of Covid-19 patients, it would not be possible to prevent the spread of the highly contagious virus.

Top News

COVID-19 / infectons / tests / experts

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

  • Infographic: TBS
    FDI from US halves in January-June 2022
  • A woman reacts while embracing another person, near rubble following an earthquake in Hatay, Turkey, February 7, 2023. REUTERS/Umit Bektas
    Earthquake deaths cross 4,800 in Turkey, Syria; severe weather hampers rescue operations
  • Photo: TBS
    BNP to hold march programmes in Dhaka on 9 and 12 February

MOST VIEWED

  • Incepta Pharma abandons Covid vaccine plan
    Incepta Pharma abandons Covid vaccine plan
  • Test tube labelled "Covid-19 Omicron variant test positive" is seen in this illustration picture taken 15 January, 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
    Tighter screening at ports urged as new Covid sub-variant BF.7 detected
  • Test tube labelled "Covid-19 Omicron variant test positive" is seen in this illustration picture taken 15 January, 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
    First case of new Covid sub-variant Omicron BF.7 detected in Bangladesh: IEDCR
  • Illustration: Collected
    Genome sequencing reports of Chinese nationals infected with Covid by Sunday: IEDCR
  • Computer image of a betacoronavirus which is the type of virus linked to Covid-19
    4 Chinese nationals detected with Covid at Dhaka airport
  • Omicron BF7: Land ports still left unguarded
    Omicron BF7: Land ports still left unguarded

Related News

  • UNFPA and BRAC host knowledge dissemination event on Covid-19
  • The supply chain crisis opens door to resilience
  • Hong Kong says 'hello' to woo back visitors after Covid
  • US to end Covid-19 emergency declarations on 11 May
  • Covid remains a public health emergency, says WHO

Features

Nimah designed by Compass Architects- Wooden tiles. Photo: Junaid Hasan Pranto

Trendy flooring designs to upgrade any space

3h | Habitat
Benefits of having high ceilings in your new home

Benefits of having high ceilings in your new home

3h | Habitat
Each Reverse Osmosi plant can produce approximately 8,000 litres of drinking water a day for around 250 families. Photo: Sadiqur Rahman

A drop in the ocean of persistent water crisis

4h | Panorama
Photo: Collected

Get your partner a lovely present this Valentine's Day

1d | Brands

More Videos from TBS

Challenging time waiting for RMG

Challenging time waiting for RMG

2h | TBS Round Table
"Full Moon Meditation" organized by Department of Theater and Performance Studies, University of Dhaka

"Full Moon Meditation" organized by Department of Theater and Performance Studies, University of Dhaka

2h | TBS Graduates
10 cricketers who have played over 400 T20 matches

10 cricketers who have played over 400 T20 matches

2h | TBS SPORTS
Harry Kane sets two record in one goal

Harry Kane sets two record in one goal

2h | TBS SPORTS

Most Read

1
Photo: Courtesy
Panorama

From 'Made in Bangladesh' to 'Designed in Bangladesh'

2
Leepu realised his love for cars from a young age and for the last 40 years, he has transformed, designed and customised hundreds of cars. Photo: Collected
Panorama

'I am not crazy about cars anymore': Nizamuddin Awlia Leepu

3
Master plan for futuristic Chattogram city in the making
Districts

Master plan for futuristic Chattogram city in the making

4
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo is seen outside the headquarters building in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/File Photo
Economy

IMF approves $4.7 billion loan for Bangladesh, calls for ambitious reforms

5
Belal Ahmed new acting chairman of SIBL
Banking

Belal Ahmed new acting chairman of SIBL

6
Photo: Collected
Crime

Prime Distribution MD Mamun arrested in fraud case

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]