Five more people died from Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, in the last 24 hours, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said on Monday.
With the new deaths, the country’s death toll from the deadly disease has reached 39.
Addressing the daily online bulletin on the coronavirus situation in the afternoon, the minister also said that, in the last 24 hours, 182 new Covid-19 cases were recorded, taking the total number of patients to 803.
At the same time, three more people made full recovery, which meant so far 42 people have recovered since the country on March 8 detected the first three cases.
Regarding the sharp rise in new cases, the health minister blamed large scale community transmission around the country.
He also informed that the government was working to import some 400 to 500 ventilators and oxygen generators. “However, acquiring them has become difficult due to the present global situation.”
Meanwhile, Shahabuddin Medical College Hospital and Anwer Khan Modern Medical College Hospital were now ready to treat Covid-19 patients, he said. “Both of these private hospitals have ICU facilities.
“Others private hospitals in all other districts will also be prepared for providing treatment soon,” he added.
Zahid Maleque again urged the people to stay home and maintain social distancing absolutely to fight the pandemic.
Dhaka, Narayanganj returnees caused surge in cases
Covid-19 spread across the country because of the people who returned from either Dhaka or Narayanganj, said the health minister on Monday.
“I have discussed with the directors of medical college hospitals across the country. According to them, almost every new case in district level came to be after the patient came into contact with some who returned from either Dhaka or Narayanganj,” he said.
“We have to take tougher steps and strictly enforce lockdowns in those areas. We are doing everything in line with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s instructions,” Zahid added.
He also blamed general people for the community transmissions of Covid-19. “We have noticed that people are not following the lockdowns properly. Many are gathering in markets [every day] as well as roaming unnecessarily. We have to stop that.”
He urged everyone to be cautious so that community transmission rate does not spike.
‘Bangladesh fighting Covid-19 better than Europe, US’
The health minister on Monday also claimed that Bangladesh was in combating the coronavirus pandemic better that Europe and the United States.
He said during the briefing: “You know thousands of people have died and hundreds of thousands are getting infected every day in Europe and America.
“But the situation in Bangladesh is still better than them. We want to continue this.”
Zahid added that the country would in retain the better situation if people follow the instructions of the government, the prime minister and the Health Ministry.
