The reopening of shops, markets and readymade garment (RMG) factories will increase the number of coronavirus infections in the country, Health Minister Zahid Maleque has said.
The minister made the comment during a meeting with the 17-member National Technical Advisory Committee on the coronavirus outbreak at the secretariat on Tuesday afternoon.
In response to a question, the health minister said: “The Covid-19 infection rate is increasing. The death rate is still low in our country, but number of infections is increasing.
“We can assume, now that markets and garment factories have opened, that shops will be reopened as well. So, the infection rate will also increase,” he added.
“The Health Ministry will try its best to control the infection rate, so that the number of Covid-19 patients does not increase too much. Our mandate is to give proper treatment to Covid-19 patients,” the minister further said.
He also said the ministry’s Technical Committee will give some recommendations on reducing the spread of Covid-19 and they will be placed before the authorities concerned.
“The committee will give some recommendations on the easing of the lockdown, shopping malls opening before Eid-ul-Fitr and transport facilities during the Eid vacation,” Zahid Maleque said.
At the beginning of the briefing, the health minister said: “We held discussions for around three and half an hours with the 17-member National Technical Advisory Committee. A lot of issues were discussed in the meeting. The committees also told us that they will give suggestions to the Health Ministry continuously and we will follow them.”
He added that the Technical Committee told the ministry to ensure the treatment of each and every patient during the pandemic.
“We have formed 33 labs. Among them, 6 are conducting operations and testing samples; we have to increase the number soon. The Technical Committee also suggested we reduce the time for delivering test results. We are taking measures in these regards,” Zahid Maleque said.
“The Technical Committee also asked us to increase the testing capacity at BSMMU,” he further said..
The minister also said a subcommittee or focal point cell has been formed, which will receive the suggestions from the technical committee and take proper action accordingly.
“At the meeting, concern was expressed about the high rate of coronavirus infection among doctors. To address the lack of health workers, we are going to recruit more 4th class employees,” the minister said.
The formation of a public and private hospital networking system to secure a combined medical assistance was also suggested at the meeting.
