With the world currently in the grips of the COVID-19 virus, now is the time to take all the necessary precautions to stay safe from the rapidly spreading disease.
Even though the trans-border spread of the virus has been rather unpredictable, it is no excuse for Bangladeshis to not prepare themselves for the coronavirus, as the virus has already killed more than 3,000 people while infecting over 90,000 all over the world.
Around 80% of the deaths have been over 60 years of age, while 75% of those who died have suffered from pre-existing conditions like cancer or diabetes.
Some of the steps outlined by the UN can prove instrumental in staving the coronavirus off: Wash your hands, cover your mouth, wear face masks, maintain some distance in personal space, avoid unknown animals, avoid raw food, seek medical help when ill, seek medical advice before leaving home.
As a nation that does not have the best of track records when it comes to providing quality health care, the primary onus, unfortunately, falls on all of us as individuals to avoid being infected.
Last year, we witnessed what was perhaps the biggest outbreak of dengue in our history -- an outbreak that we clearly were not prepared to handle.
We cannot allow a repeat of that.
The government needs to mobilize as many of its resources as possible to tackle the potential spread of the coronavirus, and ensure global cooperation with countries where the virus has already made its presence known.
To be safe from this disease, we need to be prepared.
