The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) has confirmed that one more person has died of coronavirus (Covid-19) infection in Bangladesh, taking the number of deaths from the disease in the country to five.
“However, no new case of infection has been recorded in the country in the last 24 hours,” IEDCR Director Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora made the announcement while addressing an online press briefing on Wednesday.
So far, 39 patients have tested positive in Bangladesh. Among them, five people died, while seven patients, including two new cases, have recovered.
“The rest of them are under medical care,” she said at the press briefing.
Dr Flora said the IEDCR suspects that community transmission may have taken place on a limited scale.
Replying to a query, she said: “We learned about two such cases. We are assuming that there might have been some community transmission on a limited scale in one case.”
She, however, said it is unlikely that community transmission will spread throughout Bangladesh.
Dr Flora said the person who died last had tested Covid-19 positive on March 18 and was brought to Kuwait Bangladesh Friendship Government Hospital for treatment on March 21.
“The deceased, aged 65, was suffering from diabetes and hypertension as well,” she added.
She said till now, a total of 47 people have been kept in isolation while 47 others are in institutional quarantine.
“A total of 82 samples were tested in the last 24 hours, and none of them were found to be positive.”
From March 8, to March 25, 33 samples have been tested on average every day.
Till now, a total of 794 samples have been tested by the IEDCR.
She said the IEDCR receives samples from suspected patients as per World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
However, she added that samples from suspected cases from the areas where Covid-19 infection has been prevalent were also being collected.
New hunting number added
IEDCR said a new hunting number – 10655 – has been added and asked all to use the new hotline or 01944333222.
Dr Flora said the IEDCR hotline received 2,730 calls in the last 24 hours.
She requested to call at the hunting numbers for any query about Covid-19.
“For other health issues and query, people can call 16263,” she said.
Four more institutes to test coronavirus in Dhaka
The IEDCR, which has been the lone institute authorized to test coronavirus samples, has confirmed that four more testing facilities in Dhaka will be installed by Thursday.
The testing facilities will be set up at the Institute of Public Health, Dhaka Shishu Hospital, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital.
Besides, medical college hospitals in all other seven divisions, along with BITID (Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases) in Cox’s Bazar will have testing facilities soon.
