The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), has stopped publishing Dhaka city’s area-wise data of coronavirus infections to avoid confusion.
IEDCR previously used to disclose two separate area-wise lists—one of infections in Dhaka city, and the other of infections in the country’s divisions and districts. The organization stopped publishing Dhaka city area-wise data after June 16.
On June 16, the IEDCR provided Dhaka’s area-wise data of 24,504 coronavirus cases. However, the actual number was much higher.
This happened because the IEDCR faced difficulties in locating the addresses of many people who tested positive, owing to incomplete information provided in the sample testing forms.
“We were facing difficulties in updating the data because many people were not writing in their full address when providing their samples to the collection centres. It was creating difficulties in determining their addresses,” Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora, the director of IEDCR, told Dhaka Tribune.
She said it has created a massive backlog in the database which is now being updated.
“We are now updating the list. The data will be circulated again shortly, once the list is ready and updated,” she added.
The IEDCR has continued to publish data regarding coronavirus infected people in other locations besides Dhaka city.
Bangladesh reported its first Covid-19 cases on March 8 and first death on March 18. Since then, 108,775 people have tested positive for Covid-19 and the disease has caused 1,425 deaths.
On Thursday, Bangladesh surpassed Canada in terms of confirmed Covid-19 cases, becoming the 17th worst affected country in the world.
