At least 12 people, including five elderly men, two women, a girl, and an infant, have died from symptoms similar to the new coronavirus (Covid-19) in 11 districts between Tuesday night and Wednesday.
In Gazipur, a man returning from Narayanganj with fever and cold died in his home in Kapasia upazila around 1am on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old, an RMG worker in Narayanganj, returned home two weeks ago.
Kapasia Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Abdus Salam Sarkar said: “We have sent health care workers to collect samples from the deceased as well as his family members.
“The deceased’s family will remain in home-quarantine for 14 days. Meanwhile, the district administration will decide whether to lockdown their home or not.”
In Pirojpur, a 70-year-old man with fever and sore throat died in his home in Nazirpur around 4am on Wednesday.
The elderly man had travelled several districts and returned home from Tabligh Jammat on March 26.
Nazirpur Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Fazle Bari said samples will be collected from the deceased and sent to Dhaka.
In Manikganj, a 65-year-old man with cold and breathing problems died in his home in Saturia upazila around 7am on Wednesday.
The elderly man was reportedly suffering from cold and breathing problems for quite a while.
Saturia Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Mamun Ur Rashid said samples from the deceased have been collected and sent to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).
In Narayanganj, a 70-year-old man with fever, cold and died in his home in Jamtola area in the city Wednesday afternoon.
The elderly man was reportedly suffering from the symptoms for a week.
Civil Surgeon Md Imtiaz said the deceased was buried under the guidelines provided the health department.
In Nilphamari, a 64-year-old man with fever, cold and cough died in his home in Domar upazila.
The elderly man was undergoing treatment when he died early Wednesday.
Domar Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Md Ibrahim said samples were collected from the deceased and sent to Rangpur Medical College Hospital.
In Shariatpur, a young man has died at the isolation ward of Shariatpur Sadar Hospital at 3:45pm on Wednesday.
The deceased, from Naria upazila, was admitted to the hospital with fever and respiratory problems on Tuesday, said Sadar Hospital Superintendent Dr Munir Ahmed.
In Moulvibazar, a 13-month-old infant with fever and respiratory problems died in Kamalganj upazila on Wednesday morning.
Kamalganj Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Mahbubul Alam Bhuiya said samples from the child were collected and sent to Sylhet Shaheed Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital.
Family members of the child have been kept in home quarantine for precaution, he added.
In Noakhali, a 60-year-old man died from fever, cold, and respiratory problems at his home in Begumganj upazila on Tuesday.
The deceased reportedly had also been suffering from a heart condition.
Begumganj Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Ashim Kumar Das said: “We have collected samples from the deceased and sent it to Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (BITID) in Chittagong.”
In Panchagarh, a girl, suffering from respiratory problems, died in Debiganj upazila on Tuesday.
The 14-year-old had been suffering from respiratory problems for a while now, say family members.
Debiganj Upazila Health and Planning Officer Dr Hasinur Rahman said nonetheless the girl’s samples were collected. “We will send her samples to Rangpur Medical College Hospital for testing.”
In Rangpur, two women, from Kaunia and Mithapukur upazila, suffering from respiratory problems, diarrhoea, and fever have died on Tuesday.
Rangpur Civil Surgeon Dr Hiramb Kumar said their samples have been collected. “The samples will be sent to the PCR lab at Rangpur Medical College Hospital.”
In Brahmanbaria, a Bangladeshi expatriate who recently returned from Malaysia has died after exhibiting symptoms similar to that of the new coronavirus (Covid-19).
The 35-year-old was suffering from respiratory problems when he died at Nasirnagar Upazila Health Complex Tuesday night.
Nasirnagar Upazila Health Officer Dr Avijit Roy said: “The deceased showed symptoms of coronavirus before his death. His samples have been collected and we can confirm whether or not he had contracted the virus after we get his test report.”
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Nazma Ashrafi said: “The deceased had returned to Nasirnagar on March 18 and was put under a mandatory 14-day quarantine. On Saturday, he fell ill and was diagnosed with typhoid. Later, on Tuesday he was taken to the upazila health complex as he began to show symptoms of respiratory constraints.
“Immediately after his death, we put his house and his in-laws' house under lockdown for 14-days.”
His namaz-e-jazana was held early in the morning and he was buried according to the safety guidelines provided by the IEDCR.
Our correspondents from respective districts contributed to this report
