Tolarbagh, Uttara, Wari hit hardest by Covid-19

The Dhaka city currently has the highest number of Covid-19 cases in Bangladesh, and the novel coronavirus has already spread to 75 areas of the capital. 

Tolarbagh, Uttara and Wari areas of the city have the largest number of Covid-19 patients, according to the latest analysis by the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), released on Sunday.

The IEDCR analysis revealed that the number of Covid-19 patients in the country has reached 621, and among them, 313 cases are from Dhaka city.

As of Sunday, 19 patients were identified in Tolarbagh, 17 in Uttara and 16 in Wari areas of the capital.

Six more areas of the city have more than 10 Covid-19 patients each. There are 12 patients in Basabo, 14 in Dhanmondi, 13 in Lalbagh, 10 in Mirpur-11, 12 in Mohammadpur, and 11 in Jatrabari. 

One coronavirus patient has been found in each of the 26 areas across Dhaka, including Adabar, Ashkona, Bosila, Farmgate and Hatirjheel. Besides, less than 10 patients have been found in each of the other areas of the city.

When asked why Dhaka has the largest number of coronavirus patients, Principal Scientific Officer of the IEDCR Dr ASM Alamgir told The Business Standard, "Dhaka is a densely populated city, which is one of the reasons. 

"Besides, the city dwellers are still moving around from one area to another. This is why the coronavirus is spreading from infection clusters to other areas. Under the current circumstances, no one should leave their home."

Meanwhile, at a regular press briefing on Sunday, IEDCR Director Professor Meerjady Sabrina Flora said, "Around 50 percent of the confirmed coronavirus cases are from Dhaka city, and another 35 percent are from other districts under the Dhaka division.

"Besides, six percent of the patients are from the Chattogram division."

According to the IEDCR data, with a total of 107 cases, Narayanganj has the most number of Covid-19 patients outside Dhaka.  The lowest number of coronavirus patients is in the Barishal division. 

Patuakhali, Barguna and Jhalakathi districts under the Barishal division have seven Covid-19 patients in total.

Fatality rate 5.5%

In 24 hours (from Friday 8am to Saturday 8am), four coronavirus patients have died across the country, taking the death toll to 34.

As of Sunday, the fatality rate of Covid-19 stands at 5.5 percent in Bangladesh, which is higher than India's 3.4 percent and Pakistan's 1.3 percent.

Italy currently has the highest coronavirus fatality rate of 12.8 percent.

Most new cases in one day

Bangladesh tested 1,340 samples in the 24-hour period, and identified 139 new cases. It is the highest number of cases confirmed in the country in one day. 

This is also the highest number of tests performed in a day so far. 

Among the four newly deceased Covid-19 patients, three are men and one is a woman. Two belong to the age group of 31-40, one was around 60 years old and the other was above 70 years old.

Three more coronavirus patients, two women and one man, have recovered in the 24-hour period. So far, 39 patients – including a doctor – have recovered from the disease in Bangladesh. 

The number of cases found in 24 hours (from Friday 8am to Saturday 8am) is more than twice of the previous day's 58 cases.

Commenting on the increasing number of patients, Principal Scientific Officer of the IEDCR Dr ASM Alamgir said, "Lower number of tests were carried out on Friday, so fewer patients were identified.

"However, the number of patients is increasing now. People from Dhaka and Narayanganj have journeyed to other parts of the country, so more patients are being found outside the capital."

Professor Nazrul Islam, virology expert and former vice chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, said, "The lower number of patients identified on Friday was abnormal. The number of confirmed cases has gone up today [Sunday]. 

"Importance must be given to accurate sample collection and testing. We will learn within a week whether the number of patients is increasing at twice the rate."

 Covid-19 spreads to 4 new districts

The novel coronavirus has spread to four more districts in the country – Lakshmipur, Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon and Jhalakathi. A total of 35 districts now have confirmed cases of Covid-19.

IEDCR Director Professor Meerjady Sabrina Flora said, "We have analysed the data collected from the four districts. It indicated that people who tested positive for the coronavirus in those districts have recently returned from Dhaka or Narayanganj. 

"This is why we are repeatedly warning people not to travel at this time. Please stay at your homes and follow the directions given by the Directorate General of Health Services."