Youths must play responsible role in curbing Covid-19 infections: Experts

Akram Uddin, 33, was careless about following the health guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation and the health ministry of the country at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He thought as a young man he is immune to the virus and will not carry it to others. So, he declined to wear a mask. But his youth did not save him from Covid-19.

Finally, he got infected with the virus along with his family members and recovered after staying more than two weeks in hospital.

"I was confident and moved rampantly. Now I am feeling guilty as I do not know how many people I have infected. It was my misconception that youths rarely die of Covid-19. I was not aware enough about the spreading of the virus," he said.

"My family members and I have near-death experiences. I would never break health guidelines if I knew this would happen. So, the youths like me should not disobey the health safety rules," Akram added.

Like Akram, many youths in Bangladesh believe that coronavirus only infects elderly people.

According to a survey titled "Rumors and Its Impact on Youth During Covid-19 Pandemic: The Case of Bangladesh", a large number of youths in Bangladesh believe in rumours concerning Covid-19 and ignore the government-imposed guidelines to prevent the disease.

The survey predicted that the level of infection among the young population in Bangladesh will be much higher in future in absence of awareness to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Saifullah Akona, lecturer of Japanese Studies at the University of Dhaka, conducted the survey in July 2020 among 188 people through online platforms.

The prediction of the study has become true after eight months as the second wave of the coronavirus is more dreadful in Bangladesh than in the previous stage.

According to the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), the infection rate is higher among people aged between 19 and 48 than the elderly people and children. The death rate among the youths has also increased. 

On 26 April this year, 97 people died of Covid-19, of them, 17 aged below 50 and three aged between 11 and 30.

On 25 April, 101 people died and of them, 18 are under 50 and Four aged between 11 and 30. Such a death rate prevailed in the last seven days.

Health experts said the high death rate among the youth is happening because of the South African variant of Covid-19. This variant infects people irrespective of age. The variant even infects people who are vaccinated.

They also suggested creating awareness especially among the youths and ensure wearing masks for all to prevent powerful variants. 

Dr Nazrul Islam, virologist and former vice-chancellor at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, told The Business Standard, "Mask is a powerful weapon to curb the Covid-19 infection. The government must compel people to wear masks. If the civil administration fails to do it, they must deploy the army in this regard."

He also said the infection rate will be decreased if the youths follow the health guideline. 

"The youths come out from home and move here and there. If they carry the virus, their family members will be infected. So, the youths must play an important role to keep themselves safe and save others," Dr Nazrul said.

Ahmed Noyon, 28, who is infected with the virus, said that he was not highly aware and did not maintain health guidelines properly. As a result, he was infected and passing a painful time. 

"My family members were also infected. Now I realised that they might not be infected if I maintained everything properly," he said. 
Meanwhile, the scenario is not good in India, Brazil and many other countries across the globe.

According to the Brazilian ICU Project, the number of people aged 39 or younger in intensive care units with Covid-19 in March rose sharply to more than 11,000, or 52.2 percent of the total.

According to India's Odisha Health department, the age group of 25 to 45 years looks more vulnerable to the virus. Nearly 40 percent of the fatalities were from the youth age group and 45 percent were middle-aged. The share of senior citizens was only around 15 percent. The 60-plus group was the most vulnerable during the first wave.

Mustaq Hossain, adviser of the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research, told The Business Standard that all people especially youths should follow the health ministry's direction strictly. It will be tough to check infection and provide treatment if Bangladesh faces India or Brazil like situation.