Dhaka reports 2 deaths, record 665 virus infections Sunday

DHAKA, May 3, 2020 (BSS) – Bangladesh today reported two more deaths from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) overnight and recorded the highest number of 665 fresh positive cases in a single day.

“Two more COVID-19 patients died in the last 24 hours, increasing the death toll from the pandemic to 177,” DGHS Additional Director General (administration) Prof Nasima Sultana told a virtual media briefing at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) in the city.

The health official said the tally of COVID-19 infections spiralled to 9,455 in the same period after another 665 people tested positive from 5,368 samples in the biggest single-day spike so far.

She said among the two fatalities, one in Narayanganj and one in Rangpur. Nasima said a total of 1,063 COVID-19 patients have so far been cured since the first COVID-19 cases were detected in Bangladesh on March 8.

Among the recovered patients, 624 are in Dhaka city and 439 outside the capital city, the health official said.

She said 896 patients were cured in Dhaka division, while 72 in Chattogram division, 31 in Mymensingh division, 6 in Khulna division, 29 in Barishal division, 25 in Rangpur division, 2 in Sylhet division and 2 in Rajshahi division,

Bangladesh confirmed the first coronavirus death on March 18, ten days after the detection of the first COVID-19 cases.

Among the COVID-19-infected cases, nearly 75 percent patients are taking treatment from their homes, and many of them are being cured every day after receiving treatment through hotlines, Nasima added.

As of May 3, of the total fatalities, 95 deaths were recorded in Dhaka city and 40 in Narayanganj district.

Of the total 177 deaths, 135 took place in Dhaka division and rests are in other seven divisions, the health official added.

Nasima said COVID-19 cases were found in 63 out of 64 districts, meaning that almost all regions of the country are now risky for the fatal disease.

No coronavirus positive case has been reported yet in Rangamati district, she said.

The health official dubbed Dhaka and Narayanganj COVID-19 as “hotspots” as the maximum number of cases were detected in the two cities.

As of May 2, Dhaka city has been considered as the worst-affected with 56.02 percent of COVID cases, while Dhaka division has remained at the top position with 83.04 percent infected cases out of total coronavirus patients, according to Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).

Of the total infections, 6,415 cases were reported in Dhaka division, 342 cases in Chattogram division, 269 cases in Mymensingh division, 147 cases in Khulna division, 123 cases in Barishal division, 149 cases in Rangpur division, 135 cases in Sylhet division and 112 cases in Rajshahi division, it added.

Among the 63 COVID-19-prone districts, Narayanganj is the most hardest-hit one with 987 cases, according to the IEDCR data.

It is followed by Gazipur with 322 positive cases, Kishoreganj with 201 cases, Narsingdi with 152 cases, Mymensingh with 145 cases, Dhaka district with 109 cases, Munshiganj with 122 cases, Madaripur with 46 cases, Chattogram with 78 cases, Gopalganj with 45, Laksmipur with 41 cases, Cox’s Bazar with 37 cases, Barishal with 40 cases, Jashore with 63 cases, Habiganj with 67 cases, Cumilla with 104 cases and Jamalpur with 66 cases.

The worst hit areas of Dhaka city are Mirpur with 151 cases, Rajarbagh with 165 cases, Mohammadpur with 80 cases, Lalbagh 78 cases, Jatrabari 101 cases, Bangshal with 58 cases , Malibagh with 62 cases, Bashabo with 34 cases, Badda with 41 cases, Kakrail with 150 cases, Gendaria with 48 cases, Hazaribagh with 38 cases, Wari 42 cases, Shahbag with 51 cases, Uttara with 63 cases, Tejgaon with 55 cases, Mogbazar with 43 cases, Mitford with 38 cases, Dhanmondi with 38 cases, Mugda with 80 cases and Mahakhali 71 cases.

Nasima said Bangladesh is witnessing a rapid rise of coronavirus cases since March 24 as 9,449 people tested positive for the virus during the time while the number was only 6 from March 8 to March 23 period.

She said a total of 81,066 samples have so far been tested since the detection of the first COVID-19 cases in the country, adding currently tests are being conducted at 31 labs in the country.

As coronavirus outbreak is on the rising trend in the country, Nasima said, the government is expanding testing facilities across the country with joint initiatives of government, non-government organizations, universities, state-run research institutes and private hospitals to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

These organizations are extending their cooperation to government to test samples of more suspected COVID-19 patients, which will help stem the spread of the disease, she said.

The organizations include Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital, Sheikh Hasina Medical College in Jamalpur, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Childhood Disease Research Foundation, Dhaka Shishu Hospital, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B), Institute for Developing Science and Health Initiatives, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Central Police Hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh Agricultural University in Mymensingh, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Jashore University of Science and Technology and Gazi PCR LAB in Rupganj.

Among them, Nasima said, some institutions are providing necessary support including donating PCR labs and other equipment to different hospitals for expediting testing activities in the country.

Graduate Biochemists Association (GBA) is working with organizations concerned of the health ministry to prevent the spread of coronavirus, she said.

The health official said also informed that the association members have already imparted trainings to doctors, nurses, medical technologists and staff on COVID-19 sample collection and testing process of different hospitals in the country.

The hospitals include Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, Rangpur Medical College Hospital, Sir Salimullah Medical College, Faridpur Medical College Hospital, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Cumilla Medical College Hospital, Mugda Medical College hospital and Kurmitola General Hospital.

The DGHS said the government has given approval to three more private hospitals – Evercare Hospital Dhaka, Square Hospital Limited and United Hospital Limited – for performing COVID-19 tests.

These hospitals have been given permission to conduct coronavirus tests for their admitted patients only, it said.

The DGHS said a process is underway to give permission to more private hospitals including LabAid Hospital, Ibn Sina Hospital and Tairunnessa Memorial Medical College and Hospital for performing COVID-19 tests.

A total of 1,92,592 people were kept at both home and institutional quarantine and 1,23,498 people were released from quarantine, while the number of people who are now in quarantine is 67,739.

According to the DGHS, a total of 615 institutions have been prepared across the country for keeping over 30,955 people in quarantine, adding nearly 1,632 people have now been kept in isolation.

The health service organization said as part of taking preventative measures to stop imported cases of COVID-19, the authorities of all gateways, including airports, land ports and waterways, are continuing screening of all foreign returnees.

It said the government has collected 18, 66,162 PPE so far, of which over 14,68,153 were distributed and 3,98,009 are in stock.

There are 9738 isolation beds in the country and 3944 of them are in Dhaka city.

The DGHS said in case of critical COVID-19 patients, special facilities including oxygen, ICU and dialysis units are needed in hospitals. At present, the country has 341 ICUs and 102 dialysis units, it added

The DGHS sources said till today, nearly 39,05,612 people received healthcare services from hotline mobile numbers and health web portals as the government formed a group of medical professionals to provide emergency health services.

The contact hotline and mobile numbers are 16263; 333; 10655 and 01944333222 – to receive information and treatment facilities on COVID-19.

As of May 3, 2020, 11.02 GMT, 245,050 people have died so far from the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak and there are 3,501, 691 currently confirmed cases in 212 countries and territories, according to Worldometer, a reference website that provides counters and real-time statistics for diverse topics.

China was the world’s first country which on January 11 reported the first death from the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, the capital of Central China’s Hubei province.