Over 50% Covid-19 patients in hospitals from rural areas: DGHS DG
The health directorate DG told the media that they talked to physicians and health officials of 45 upazila health complexes yesterday for more than three hours, who told them that most of the patients were from rural areas
More than 50% of the Covid-19 patients in hospitals are from rural areas where people consider themselves safe from the pandemic, said Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Professor Dr ABM Khurshid Alam today.
These patients are coming to the hospital at a time when the severity of the disease has increased, he said today after a meeting of the health department.
The health directorate DG told the media that they talked to physicians and health officials of 45 upazila health complexes yesterday for more than three hours, who told them that most of the patients were from rural areas.
Patients are coming to the hospitals long after they have contracted the disease, when the situation is getting worse, as said by the health professionals.
Khurshid Alam further said that due to the ongoing monsoon in the country, many people infected with the virus have assumed their illness as seasonal flu or cough, which is discouraging them from taking the Covid-19 test or treatment accordingly.
He continued that they have advised field level health officials to conduct campaigns in villages and keep watch if anyone is infected with the virus visiting homes.
DGHS is also recommending online haats instead of physical haats on the occasion of the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha, he said.
Khurshid Alam said last year's spike in Covid-19 infections was exacerbated by physical sacrificial animal markets. "It took a long time to control that infection that is why we have recommended online haats."