Coronavirus cases in Bangladesh rise to 27: IEDCR

Three more people have been tested positive in Bangladesh for coronavirus in the last 24 hours, raising the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 27.

Director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) Prof Meerjady Sabrina Flora announced this at a press briefing at IEDCR in Mohakhali on Sunday.

“IEDCR tested 65 samples in the last 24 hours … it tested samples of 564 people so far. The total number of infected people is now 27 as three more people have been diagnosed with the disease. Among them, two are imported cases and another has come in contact with a previously-infected patient,” she said.

Among the infected patients, Prof Flora mentioned, two are men and one woman — all aged between 30 to 40.

“One of the newly-infected patient has health complications, including diabetes and bronchitis, but their symptoms are currently mild and they are in good condition,” she added.

The IEDCR director also confirmed that two patients who were detected earlier have completely recovered and now the total number of cured patients is five.

“Both have been found negative for the virus twice in the tests and will return to their respected homes today,” she added.

Replying to a question Flora said, “We’re not rejecting anyone. Those who have the symptoms and are suspected for having the disease are being tested immediately.”

The IEDCR tested samples of 40 pneumonia patients to detect any sign of community transmission but it is found absent.

“We’ll only declare about community transmission once we’ve enough evidence as we need to report accurately to the World Health Organization (WHO),” she added.

Earlier, Prof Flora said the contact tracing of the infected people is underway.

“We’re trying to find the sources of infection of all the cases 14 days prior to testing so that we can take necessary steps to avoid any outbreak…If there’s any sign of community transmission, we’ll inform the media,” she said.

In the past 24 hours, IEDCR hotlines have received 3,812 calls of which 3,725 are Covid-19 related.

The IEDCR currently has 13,000 testing kits in its stock and over 30,000 will be imported shortly from China.

To support the critical stage patients, around 100 ventilators have been set up in hospitals across the capital.

Bangladesh on Saturday announced the second coronavirus death and detection of four new coronavirus patients.

The reported its first death from coronavirus on March 18.

Meanwhile, the number of globally confirmed coronavirus cases rose to more than 300,000 on Sunday. So far, the virus has claimed 13,068 lives — a mortality rate of 12 percent, according to Worldometer.

Covid-19 is affecting 188 countries and territories around the world and one international conveyance (the Diamond Princess cruise ship harboured in Yokohama, Japan).

source: UNB