CoronaVirus in Bangladesh - Updates & Discussion

[Pakistani Fighter]

It looks pretty bad mate, voluntary self isolation does'nt really work in South Asian communities, Authorities need to be more proactive

We have poverty in high numbers

 

[Gibbs]

I think this was the authorities allowing it for the sake of public order.
These workers came out probably because they were near starvation.
They are following a gradual process of restricting freedoms and enforcing more heavily, as they are well aware of what they can impose at what time.

Admittedly it's case of life and death for most of the poor in the region with or without the pandemic but now its even worse, Hence why the authorities need to be more assertive, Controlling the masses and making sure the bare essentials are provided so that they wont starve, I also understand the complexities of heavily dense populations

Easier said than done, But the alternative will be worse, I still reckon GOB is way too late in decisive action

 

[UKBengali]

Admittedly it's case of life and death for most of the poor in the region with or without the pandemic but now its even worse, Hence why the authorities need to be more assertive, Controlling the masses and making sure the bare essentials are provided so that they wont starve, I also understand the complexities of heavily dense populations

Easier said than done, But the alternative will be worse, I still reckon GOB is way too late in decisive action

So far the number of cases,when you take into account 20 fold increase in testing in last 2 weeks, and deaths are not showing any signs of massive acceleration in BD.

Although testing numbers were pitifully low at around 100-200 a day just 10 days ago, they did 2200 tests yesterday and this number is steadily ramping up with many more testing labs due to come online this month. This is crucial in being able to track the virus.

Next two weeks will pretty much tell us what fate will befall the whole of the region. I like to stay optimistic due to the multitude of reasons I have given many times already.

 

[Gibbs]

So far the number of cases and deaths are not showing any signs of massive acceleration in BD.

Although testing numbers were pitifully low at around 100-200 a day just 10 days ago, they did 2200 tests yesterday and this number is steadily ramping up with many more testing labs due to come online this month.

Next two weeks will pretty much tell us what fate will befall the whole of the region. I like to stay optimistic due to the multitude of reasons I have given many times already.

I somewhat agree on your assertion about the lower numbers in countries with warmer weather but that itself wont stop the spread unless social distancing is strictly implemented.. The worry is the high density of population in places like Bangladesh, There's no saying consequences of community spreading of the Covid19, The trick is to retrict it to home clusters.. If the infections goes above 2000, The countries health system will collapse.. Not just because of Covid19 patients but also because they wont have the capacity to treat other serious illnesses

Developed nations with health care capabilities way above countries in the sub continent have had their systems collapsed

 

[UKBengali]

I somewhat agree on your assertion about the lower numbers in countries with warmer weather but that itself wont stop the spread unless social distancing is strictly implemented.. The worry is the high density of population in places like Bangladesh, There's no saying consequences of community spreading of the Covid19, The trick is to retrict it to home clusters.. If the infections goes above 2000, The countries health system will collapse.. Not just because of Covid19 patients but also because they wont have the capacity to treat other serious illnesses

Warm weather by itself will not stop the spread of the disease true. Countries like Australia have implemented strict lockdowns as well as getting some helping hand from the warm weather. Poverty ,with a government unable or unwilling to implement a lockdown in time or properly, and then you see the tragedy like what happened in a coastal city in Ecuador.

The large S Asian countries are in their own imperfect way doing what they can within their local conditions - we cannot compare BD/India or Pakistan with Sri Lanka as you guys are 20 years ahead of the rest of the region. Your population is wealthier, more educated and healthcare system better able to cope.

Unfortunately countries like BD will not be able to implement as strict "lockdowns" as in Sri Lanka but they have at least some time before any real crisis may hit. Having extra time to prepare does make a lot of difference.

PS - Just looked up some data on the number and availability of ICU care:

Government hospitals have 500 ICU beds of which only 27 are in use.
There are a further 1200 in the private sector.
350 ventilators are on order and should be arriving shortly.

Walton has had the Medtronic ventilator design for nearly 3 weeks now and not sure how this is coming along. They can churn out 40,000 fridges a week and so sure that with the full support of Medtronic they can manufacture hundreds if not thousands of ventilators a week if required - getting enough trained medics will be far harder though.

PSS - Chinese medical team is coming soon to train BD doctors which gives me a lot of reassurance.

 

[Gibbs]

Warm weather by itself will not stop the spread of the disease true. Countries like Australia have implemented strict lockdowns as well as getting some helping hand from the warm weather. Poverty ,with a government unable or unwilling to implement a lockdown in time or properly, and then you see the tragedy like what happened in a coastal city in Ecuador.

The large S Asian countries are in their own imperfect way doing what they can within their local conditions - we cannot compare BD/India or Pakistan with Sri Lanka as you guys are 20 years ahead of the rest of the region. Your population is wealthier, more educated and healthcare system better able to cope.

Unfortunately countries like BD will not be able to implement as strict "lockdowns" as in Sri Lanka but they have at least some time before any real crisis may hit. Having extra time to prepare does make a lot of difference.

Well here's hoping for the best, The region as a whole need to come out of this without much damage

 

[Al-zakir]

Not even a single ventilator in greater sylhet. What a tragedy!


https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/bangladesh-mourns-death-of-1st-doctor-from-coronavirus/1806007

 

[UKBengali]

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangla...gage-retired-doctors-nurses-to-fight-pandemic

Coronavirus: PM says govt may engage retired doctors, nurses to fight pandemic
Tribune Desk

• Published at 05:40 pm April 16th, 2020

A health worker in a protective gown checks a man for signs of the novel coronavirus infection Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

The premier urged all concerned authorities to take effective measures to stop further spread of coronavirus in their respective districts

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said her government is considering engaging retired physician and nurses by giving them proper training to ensure treatment for all Covid-19 patients.

“We can make better use of the retired physicians and nurses after giving them proper training in tackling the crisis arising out of the coronavirus pandemic,” she said, while exchanging views with public representatives and officials of nine districts of Dhaka division through videoconference, from her official Ganabhaban residence in Dhaka, reports BSS.

She stated that the country has more shortage of nurses than that of physicians.

Retired nurses would be the best possible option to meet the current demand of nurses to ensure Medicare services for all the Covid-19 patients, she observed.

The premier also asked authorities concerned to prepare more beds in hospitals to ensure treatment for the freshly infected Covid-19 patients, although several hospitals have already been dedicated for the purpose.

She said labs have already been set up at 17 locations which are collecting samples of suspected Covid-19 patients and dead bodies with coronavirus symptoms.

“There are plenty of personnel protection equipment (PPEs). Each and every physician and nurse has been given the PPEs,” she added, reports BSS.



When her attention was drawn from Narayanganj and Gopalganj districts to the installation of PCR labs at the districts for quicker testing of the Covid-19 patients, the premier asked the local authorities to take prompt measures to send the samples to nearby districts which have the facilities and send the test reports online.

The premier also asked health ministry officials from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), present in the videoconference, to take measures to install PCR lab at Narayanganj. In response they said it would take time to install the lab.

The health ministry officials informed the premier that they have already taken initiatives in setting up PCR lab at Faridpur district and its operation is set to commence in two days.

Referring to the global statistics of deaths and infections by Covid-19, the premier said 50 people have so far died of the disease in Bangladesh, adding: “The situation is still under control as the government has taken measures since very beginning of the coronavirus outbreak.”

She, however, expressed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members of those who died of coronavirus, and prayed for early recovery of those suffering from the disease.

The premier urged all concerned authorities to take effective measures to stop further spread of coronavirus in their respective districts.

“Take hot water and seasonal local foods to boost your immune system to fight the coronavirus,” she said, calling upon the people to take necessary precautionary measures for personal and family protection.

 

[UKBengali]

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2020/04/18/coronavirus-9-more-die-306-more-infected-in-24hrs

Coronavirus: Bangladesh records 9 more deaths, 306 cases in 24hrs
Rumi Kawser Talukder

• Published at 02:34 pm April 18th, 2020

A computer image created by Nexu Science Communication, together with Trinity College in Dublin, shows a model structurally representative of a betacoronavirus which is the type of virus linked to Covid-19, better known as the coronavirus linked to the Wuhan outbreak, shared with Reuters on February 18, 2020 Reuters

Total number of confirmed cases climbs to 2,144

Bangladesh has confirmed nine more people have died of coronavirus infection in the last 24 hours, taking the number of deaths to 84 in the country.

Besides, 306 more people tested positive for Covid-19, a disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus, over the same period, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 2,144.

The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) Director Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora made the announcement while addressing an online press briefing in Dhaka on Saturday afternoon.

She said samples of 2,114 individuals were tested in the past 24 hours when 306 were found positive for the infection.

Of the deceased, Flora said, six were from Dhaka, two from Narayanganj, and one was from Savar.

On Friday, Bangladesh recorded the highest deaths for the second consecutive day with 15 more fatalities from the pandemic announced by the World Health Organization (WHO), since the country declared its first death on March 18.

The IEDCR director said eight more individuals recovered from the disease, taking the number of recovery to 66.



She said a total of 564 people are taking treatments in hospitals across the country.

"Eleven of the patients are in the intensive care units [ICUs]."

Among the newly-infected patients, 27% are aged between 21 and 30 years, 22% between 31 and 40 years, and 19% between 41 and 50, she said.

Of the newly-infected, 70% are male while the rest are female, Flora said.

"Most of the infected people are in Dhaka while 32% of them got affected in the past 24 hours. Gazipur is seeing the higher number of infections followed by Narsingdi and Kishoreganj," she added.

The fast spreading coronavirus, which was first reported in China's Wuhan, has claimed 154,714 lives and infected 2,260,862 people across the world till 3:20pm on Saturday, according to worldometer.

As many as 578,799 people have recovered from Covid-19 which has spread to 210 countries and territories across the planet.

 

[JohnWick]

It's amazing that Pakistan is not being it.

 

[VikingRaider]

Defying shutdown thousands attend Khelafat Majlish leader’s janaza


Defying shutdowns, people have gathered for the janaza of a deceased Khelafat Majlish leader in Brahmanbaria. Photo: Masuk Hridoy/Star
" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: right; cursor: pointer; position: relative; display: table; z-index: 1; margin-left: 44.4063px;">

Defying shutdowns, people have gathered for the janaza of a deceased Khelafat Majlish leader in Brahmanbaria. Photo: Masuk Hridoy/Star

Star Online Report

Defying the nationwide shutdown to curb the transmission of Covid-19, thousands of people today took part in the janaza of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish's 'Nayeb-e Amir' Maulana Zubayer Ahmad Ansari, held at a madrasa in Bertola village under Sorail upazila of Brahmanbaria district.

The janaza started from the premises of Jamia Rahmania Madrasa but extended to Ashuganj, thanks to the enormous gathering of people where none paid any heed to the government directive on physical distancing.

People also took part in the janaza from the rooftops of the surrounding buildings. A few police personnel were seen at the spot and they remained silent.

Terming it "people's indifference", Brahmanbaria-3 constituency lawmaker R A M Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury, said such incident could invite possible Covid-19 transmission.

Contacted, Md Shahadat Hossain Titu, officer-in-charge (OC) of Sorail Police Station, said people from Dhaka also came to attend the janaza.

"We did not even imagine that such gathering would happen. When an influx of people started, there was nothing we could do," the OC said.

Maulana Zubayer passed away at his house in Brahmanbaria last night.

Source : https://www.thedailystar.net/countr...ttend-khelafat-majlish-leaders-janaza-1894240


@UKBengali what a nice show !

 

[UKBengali]

Defying shutdown thousands attend Khelafat Majlish leader’s janaza


Defying shutdowns, people have gathered for the janaza of a deceased Khelafat Majlish leader in Brahmanbaria. Photo: Masuk Hridoy/Star
" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: right; cursor: pointer; position: relative; display: table; z-index: 1; margin-left: 44.4063px;">

Defying shutdowns, people have gathered for the janaza of a deceased Khelafat Majlish leader in Brahmanbaria. Photo: Masuk Hridoy/Star

Star Online Report

Defying the nationwide shutdown to curb the transmission of Covid-19, thousands of people today took part in the janaza of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish's 'Nayeb-e Amir' Maulana Zubayer Ahmad Ansari, held at a madrasa in Bertola village under Sorail upazila of Brahmanbaria district.

The janaza started from the premises of Jamia Rahmania Madrasa but extended to Ashuganj, thanks to the enormous gathering of people where none paid any heed to the government directive on physical distancing.

People also took part in the janaza from the rooftops of the surrounding buildings. A few police personnel were seen at the spot and they remained silent.

Terming it "people's indifference", Brahmanbaria-3 constituency lawmaker R A M Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury, said such incident could invite possible Covid-19 transmission.

Contacted, Md Shahadat Hossain Titu, officer-in-charge (OC) of Sorail Police Station, said people from Dhaka also came to attend the janaza.

"We did not even imagine that such gathering would happen. When an influx of people started, there was nothing we could do," the OC said.

Maulana Zubayer passed away at his house in Brahmanbaria last night.

Source : https://www.thedailystar.net/countr...ttend-khelafat-majlish-leaders-janaza-1894240


@UKBengali what a nice show !

Yeah I saw this and I have to blame the government for this.
This is the first serious mistake they have been caught making.

Where was the Army to stop these idiots?

BA has 240,000 troops and at least some should be deployed with the police all over BD to have stopped this kind of idiocy.

Who knows how many people will now die because of this show.

 

[VikingRaider]

Yeah I saw this and I have to blame the government for this.

I do not blame govt entirely . I blame the system of our country . It's a nominally secular and theocratic in reality . You see what would happen if govt take action so fast ? opposition will start playing religious card to take down the govt . The heads of hydra are still alive.

Where was the Army to stop these idiots?

BA has 240,000 troops and at least some should be deployed with the police all over BD to have stopped this kind of idiocy.

What army can do if govt will not deploy them or declare emergency ? And even if emergency was declared , still can army control the mass directly? You can control political movement by controlling it's leaders , but where it is the cause of a leader of an Islamic party how can they be controlled?

Also these people believe that Jannah is more desirable place than the earth , you can not control them overnight . It's the real tragedy of Bangladesh .

 

[UKBengali]

I do not blame govt entirely . I blame the system of our country . It's a nominally secular and theocratic in reality . You see what would happen if govt take action so fast ? opposition will start playing religious card to take down the govt . The heads of hydra are still alive.


What army can do if govt will not deploy them or declare emergency ? And even if emergency was declared , still can army control the mass directly? You can control political movement by controlling it's leaders , but where it is the cause of a leader of an Islamic party how can they be controlled?

Also these people believe that Jannah is more desirable place than the earth , you can not control them overnight . It's the real tragedy of Bangladesh .

Have to disagree here.

BD government should have realised this may happen and declared state of emergency if required to deploy BA all over the country.

If other poor countries can do it, then so can BD. Nothing special about religion in BD over others.

Big mistake by government and hope it does not happen again.

 

[VikingRaider]

Have to disagree here.

BD government should have realised this may happen and declared state of emergency if required to deploy BA all over the country.

If other poor countries can do it, then so can BD. Nothing special about religion in BD over others.

Big mistake by government and hope it does not happen again.

I wish you were right . However if they can be controlled then there is perhaps still time . Govt should declared emergency right now . Otherwise such gathering won't stop .