By now, there is no questioning that, after months of apparent progress, Covid-19 is surging again in Bangladesh -- on Wednesday, the number of new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours shot up to 3,567 which was the highest in eight months.
Just why we are witnessing such a sudden and dramatic increase in cases again in the country is not fully clear, but there is no doubt that most of the population had let its guard down following months of relative lull with regard to cases and deaths, and were no longer serious with regard to following the safety measures as prescribed by doctors and health experts.
However, since we are unfortunately in the midst of a Covid peak once again, there is no alternative but to take the necessary measures to be prepared for the rise in Covid-19 patients. To that end, it is good to see that the government is doing its part, as five hospitals in Dhaka have been assigned to tackle the oncoming influx of patients in the days to come.
It is disappointing that it has come to this, as preparing beforehand is always better than devising solutions once the problem has become unmanageable.
Thus, while having additional medical facilities is always a positive, the government and all relevant authorities concerned must also communicate the seriousness of the current predicament to the general public, and urge them that until vaccination is completed for Bangladeshis, the gold standard for preventing the spread of Covid-19 remains consistent: Regular hand-washing, wearing a mask, and maintaining distance