The number of Covid-19 cases in Khulna City Corporation area has spiked at an alarming rate within just one month, impacting the daily lives of people, who live from hand to mouth, as well as businessmen.
Till June 25, the city corporation had only 1,068 cases with 12 deaths. But after one month, on July 25, the confirmed Covid-19 cases rose to 3,059 while the number of deaths stood at 43 in the city.
A total of 3,950 confirmed cases, including 60 deaths, have been confirmed so far in the entire district till July 25, according to the Khulna Civil Surgeon office.
Why is the city seeing a sudden surge in Covid-19 cases?
According to Khulna Civil Surgeon Dr Sujat Ahmed, many people from areas in the district that are affected by Covid-19 are daily coming to the city corporation area surreptitiously and living in the overpopulated areas. Therefore, the outbreak has snowballed in the city areas.
Till June 25, the city corporation had only 1,068 confirmed covid-19 cases and 12 deaths, but after one month the number of confirmed cases tripled and deaths quadrupled, he added.
Economic crisis induced by Covid-19 outbreak
Hit hard by the Covid-19 outbreak, residents and businessmen of the city have been going through acute financial crises.
The local administration put ward no 17 and 24 areas in Khulna City Corporation under lockdown from 25 June after an increase in the number of Covid-19 patients in the areas.
After 21 days, on July 16, the lockdown was lifted as the number of coronavirus cases declined. But during this period the businessmen of the areas had to go through economic crises as all business activities remained shut.
Rubel Hossain, a grocer of 24 no ward said: "Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, we have been going through trying times as customers have limited their movement outside their homes."
"But the situation deteriorated seriously when the lockdown was imposed for 21 days. During this period we had to spend our savings to survive." he said.
"Now I am running my shop with small amounts of items as I cannot purchase goods because I lack money," he added.
MD Selim Miah, a resident of 17 no ward said: "I would earn money teaching at a coaching centre, but for the last four months I have been going through a severe crisis as the students stopped coming to the centre over fears of Covid-19.”
"Now I am meeting the daily needs of my family from my savings," he added.
Speaking on the crisis, Khulna Chamber of Commerce and Industries President Kazi Aminul Haque said that due to the lockdown, the businessmen of 17 and 24 no wards had plunged into an economic crisis. They were carrying on with their lives by spending money from what they had saved for the future.
All businessmen under the city corporation have incurred losses owing to Covid-19. An economic recession is going on across the city corporation. Daily sales have dropped drastically as consumer buying power has declined, he added.