Health authorities in the country stated again that there is evidence of local transmission, the three latest detections are indicative of the fact that coronavirus has started spreading beyond affected families.
The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) yesterday confirmed three new cases taking the total number of confirmed cases to 20 across the country.
But one of the three - a male person - was infected from one of his contacts outside of his family in recent days.
Additional Director General (administration) of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr Nasima Sultana at a press briefing in the capital said the new patients include a woman aged around 30, and two men -- aged 30 and 70.
The elderly man is in critical condition as he has comorbidity (other lifelong diseases) and is now undergoing treatment at the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital, she said.
Bangladesh reported the first death of a 70-year-old from coronavirus on Wednesday. Three others were released after being cured.
Health officials have put 44 new people under institutional quarantine while 30 others have been kept in isolation across the country who are awaiting tests or the result of their tests.
Asked if Bangladesh already have evidence of community transmission, Principal Scientific Officer of IEDCR ASM Alamgir said: “We are seeing local transmission in our country, where people are getting infected after coming into contact with the foreign returnees. But we have not seen any case of community transmission in our country till now.”
Total of five people has a comorbidity
In addition to the newly infected 70-year-old patient, there are four others who also have comorbidity.
IEDCR director Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora on Wednesday said four persons who are undergoing treatment at a Dhaka hospital have comorbidity and are at the risk of death as well.
She said among them, one has a history of visiting Berlin and Rome in recent times, while another one was a family member of a returnee.
While the third person had a history of contact with a returnee who is his relative.
DGHS asks local administration to ensure lockdown
Replying to a question, Dr Nasima said ensuring lockdown is a matter that should be ensured by the local administration and home ministry. Health ministry would never be able to ensure it.
“Without proper assistance from local administration the lockdown process cannot be effective in any sense,” she added.
She said lockdown means it bars people from roaming randomly and prevent close contact with the patients. All the shops except for food and pharmacies should be closed, transport connection with the area should also be stopped.
People would not be allowed to leave home unless there is a life emergency, the official said.
“In simple words, lockdown means exit and entry to the area would be stopped,” Dr Nasima explained.
