CoronaVirus in Bangladesh - Updates & Discussion

[UKBengali]

@Atlas @UKBengali
Five more coronavirus patients die in 24 hrs, 552 test positive
Independent Online Desk/UNB

Coronavirus deaths keep growing in Bangladesh as five more people died from the virus infection in the last 24 hours till Saturday, taking the death toll in the country to 175.

Besides, 552 more people tested positive for coronavirus during the period, raising the number of such cases in the country to 8790.

A total of 6193 samples were tested during the same period, she said.

Prof Dr Nasima Sultana, Additional Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), came up with the disclosure in the daily online health bulletin, held at the Management Information System (MIS) in the afternoon.

The global death toll from coronavirus climbed to 239,588 as of Saturday morning.

Since it was first reported in China in December last year, coronavirus has infected 3,400,767 people globally, according to Worldometer.

Of them, 2,079,587 are currently being treated and 51,355 among them are in serious or critical condition.

So far, 1,081,592 people have recovered from COVID-19.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus crisis a pandemic on March 11.

The coronavirus COVID-19 is affecting 212 countries and territories around the world.

@Atlas


Stupid article that suggests that the death rate in BD is going up when in fact it has been below 10 a day for the last week or so. The highest was 15 and that was 2 weeks ago.

Two really good bits of information here:

1. Daily tests have gone over 6000 for the first time
2. Ratio of positive/tests is again falling and is now below 10%

 

[VikingRaider]

@Atlas


Stupid article that suggests that the death rate in BD is going up when in fact it has been below 10 a day for the last week or so. The highest was 15 and that was 2 weeks ago.

Two really good bits of information here:

1. Daily tests have gone over 6000 for the first time
2. Ratio of positive/tests is again falling and is now below 10%

This is Bangladeshi article mate . They are not professional. If they do not make such head line , who will click on their news?

This stupid lockdown is likely to increase till 16th may

That's very bad . What is the point of lock down when people are flooding here and there? This is like cover the world with leather , so that dust can not touch the feet of king .

 

[UKBengali]

That's very bad . What is the point of lock down when people are flooding here and there? This is like cover the world with leather , so that dust can not touch the feet of king .

Better to have an imperfect lockdown than nothing at all.

While there is no vaccine or "herd-immunity" achieved this virus can kill a lot of people.

 

[VikingRaider]

Better to have an imperfect lockdown than nothing at all.

While there is no vaccine or "herd-immunity" achieved this virus can kill a lot of people.

Just govt can force everyone wearing mask . There are many other ways left . However Hasina did not confirm the extended leave yet . Forhad Hossein send an appeal , now let's see what decision Hasina takes .

PS:Few people do govt job . What about others ? How small business men will survive ? What about non govt worker ? People having trouble of paying house rent . How long they will seat hand on hand ? If govt do not take steps then there will be chaos I think . Even govt can not force house owners not to take rent , as many people live on their rent money !
@UKBengali

 

[UKBengali]

Just govt can force everyone wearing mask . There are many other ways left . However Hasina did not confirm the extended leave yet . Forhad Hossein send an appeal , now let's see what decision Hasina takes .

Mask by itself is not enough.

Virus can be picked up by touching contaminated surfaces and unless you have medical grade masks you can still breathe out the virus and breathe it in.

BD has done well to keep the virus under control so far and letting everyone to do what they want again may prove to be a big mistake. In fact you can pretty much guarantee that young people will infect the elderly in numbers and elderly people are at greatest risk from this virus.

Let the economy open up a little first and increase step by step. No urgent need to bring everything back to normal as people will not starve in mass. Government is helping those most in need with it's programmes. People need to be patient and understand that it is for their own good.

 

[VikingRaider]

Virus can be picked up by touching contaminated surfaces and unless you have medical grade masks you can still breathe out the virus and breathe it in.

Yes , so virus can be caught through bank note . How you are going to solve the problem ?

 

[UKBengali]

Yes , so virus can be caught through bank note . How you are going to solve the problem ?

We cannot solve all problems and so we should open everything?

There is no urgent need to open up everything and so BD needs to be cautious and do it slow and step by step.

 

[VikingRaider]

We cannot solve all problems and so we should open everything?

There is no urgent need to open up everything and so BD needs to be cautious and do it slow and step by step.

However let's wait for the decision of Hasina . @UKBengali , @ebr77 . Before Hasina approve , nothing is final!


১৫ মে পর্যন্ত ছুটির মেয়াদ বাড়ছে

যুগান্তর রিপোর্ট ০২ মে ২০২০, ১৫:৩৬ | অনলাইন সংস্করণ





করোনাভাইরাস মোকাবেলায় চলমান সাধারণ ছুটির মেয়াদ ১৫ মে পর্যন্ত বাড়ানোর সিদ্ধান্ত নিয়েছে জনপ্রশাসন মন্ত্রণালয়। এ নিয়ে ষষ্ঠ দফায় ছুটি বাড়ানো হচ্ছে।


শনিবার বিকালে জনপ্রশাসন প্রতিমন্ত্রী ফরহাদ হোসেন যুগান্তরকে এ তথ্য নিশ্চিত করেছেন।

তিনি জানান, করোনার সংক্রমণ রোধে ১৫ মে পর্যন্ত ছুটি বাড়ানোর সিদ্ধান্ত নেয়া হয়েছে। প্রধানমন্ত্রী অনুমোদন দিলে দুই তিন দিনের মধ্যে প্রজ্ঞাপন জারি করা হবে।

উল্লেখ্য, বৈশ্বিক মহামারী করোনাভাইরাসের সংক্রমণ যেন ছড়িয়ে না পড়ে- সেটি প্রতিরোধে সরকারের নির্বাহী আদেশে পাঁচ দফায় আগামী ৫ মে পর্যন্ত দেশে সাধারণ ছুটি চলছে।


গত ২৬ মার্চ থেকে ৪ এপ্রিল পর্যন্ত প্রথম দফায় ছুটি ঘোষণা করা হয়। করোনা সংক্রমণ প্রতিরোধে পরে এই ছুটি বাড়িয়ে ৯ এপ্রিল পর্যন্ত করা হয়। এরপর ১৪ এপ্রিল পর্যন্ত ছুটি বাড়ানো হয়।

চতুর্থ দফায় ২৫ এপ্রিল এবং সর্বশেষ পঞ্চম দফায় ৫ মে পর্যন্ত ছুটি বাড়ানো হয়। এবার পরিস্থিতি বিবেচনায় নিয়ে ষষ্ঠ দফায় ছুটি বাড়ানোর সিদ্ধান্ত হলো।

Source : https://www.jugantor.com/covid-19/303524/১৫-মে-পর্যন্ত-ছুটির-মেয়াদ-বাড়ছে

 

[Black_cats]

Bangladesh likely to extend shutdown till May 16
Ali Asif Shawon

• Published at 03:44 pm May 2nd, 2020

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangla.../02/bangladesh-to-extend-shutdown-till-may-15

This recently taken photo shows docked launches and water vessels on both sides of Buriganga River in Dhaka after the nationwide shutdown started Courtesy: Ibnul Asaf Jawed


Govt looking at easing of lockdown on a limited scale

The government is going to extend the ongoing nationwide shutdown by ten days contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

A source at the public administration ministry confirmed Dhaka Tribune that the shutdown will be extended to May 16.

Earlier on March 23, due to Covid 19, the government declared a nationwide 10-day holiday from March 26 to April 4, shutting down public and private offices except essential and healthcare facilities.

The shutdown was extended for multiple times till May 5.

Sources inside the ministry said the instructions to maintain restrictions during the shutdown will remain same but some relaxations will be allowed, details of which will come in a notification to be issued on Sunday or Monday.

As of Saturday, health authorities in Bangladesh recorded 8,790 Covid-19 cases and 175 deaths.

Govt looking at new strategy

The health ministry has been working with veteran scientists and physicians to find new ways to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19, in Bangladesh.

The novel coronavirus is already at the community transmission level in the country, health officials said.

The government is likely to relax lockdown rather than withdraw it completely after May 16, the scheduled end of the shutdown that began on March 26. Covid-19 testing is to be increased to the mass level and quarantine measures will still be strict.

Businesses may be opened on a limited scale.

“We are looking at new strategies to prevent the spread of coronavirus, as the country is at the community transmission level now,” said Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) official Nasima Sultana.

“The new strategies will be settled and finalized by the top management of the Heath Affairs Ministry and DGHS,” Additional Director Sultana told the Dhaka Tribune on Friday.

The Health Affairs Ministry has called meetings to look at and finalize the new strategies next Sunday and Monday.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque has called an inter-ministerial meeting with the ministries, agencies and stakeholders concerned on Sunday, to find a way to reopen industries and business organizations.

The Public Security Division secretary, Industry Ministry secretary, Labour and Employment Affairs Ministry secretary, Commerce Ministry secretary, inspector general of police, and chief health officers of Dhaka North and South City Corporations are scheduled to attend the meeting. The presidents of the

FBCCI, BGMEA, BKMEA, BTMEA and MCCI have also been invited.

Readymade garment factories have already opened on a limited scale while maintaining social

distancing and coronavirus preventive guidelines. Only workers who live near their respective RMG factories are supposed to go to work.

However, the opening of other industries and business organizations will require transport systems to also be opened.

“Although government offices, RMG factories and goods transports are being operated on a limited scale due to many emergencies, an extension of the public holidays [shutdown] is still under consideration by the government, especially to avoid mass gatherings,” said a senior official of the government.

“The reopening of passenger transports, educational and religious institutions may be delayed,” he added.

Although educational institutions will remain close until further notice, all public and private universities

will be allowed to hold online classes, examinations, and evaluations in order to avoid session jam.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque has called the meeting on Monday with the National Technical Advisory

Committee (NTAC), to set new strategy to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

NTAC consists of 17 veteran physicians and scientists and was formed in order to advise the government

on the prevention of coronavirus, as the virus is now at the community transmission level.

On Wednesday, NATC urged decision-makers to sit with them before setting new strategies to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

NATC also handed over a series of recommendation to the Health Affairs Ministry and DGHS, to curb the coronavirus outbreak.

 

[ebr77]

We cannot solve all problems and so we should open everything?

There is no urgent need to open up everything and so BD needs to be cautious and do it slow and step by step.

Brother for middle class , lower middle class people it is urgent . Let me try and explain -

-middle class people we could neither beg, nor do we have enough savings to survive on and on .
- about 3.5 crore middle class have no income since last 2-3 months .
- still we gotta pay house rent , electricity bill , gas bill , water bill , dish line rent , internet line rent , credit card bill (lets say credit card and electricity bill can be pain within may without fine - but we still will need to pay them when we have had no income since last 3 month ).
- a lot of private companies didn’t pay the salaries , some pain 50%. Which is not enough to survive
- we don’t get listed in any Govt lists for ration or any other assistances .
- you are correct we can not solve everything by opening up but we will not die due to hunger.
-It is very clear to us that Govt have no plan and capacity to tackle this epidemic , neither enough honest people to help the people .
—And frankly this stupid lockdown is only in paper . People are on the street

here is a video to add to the perspective

 

[bluesky]

https://www.newagebd.net/article/105588/covid-19-deaths-double-in-two-weeks

COVID-19 deaths double in two weeks
Death rate higher in Bangladesh
Manzur H Maswood | Published: 00:29, May 03,2020 | Updated: 01:48, May 03,2020

The number of deaths from COVID-19 is increasing as coronavirus continued to infect people, showing an upward trend in Bangladesh.

In the past two weeks — from 84 on April 18 to 175 on May 2 — the number of deaths from the viral disease doubled.

The death rate is quite high among closed cases, aggregate of the numbers of death and recovery from the new coronavirus infection.

As of May 2, at least 352 confirmed cases were closed, of which 175 died and 177 recovered.

The rate of deaths among closed cases stands at 49.71 per cent on the day, which is quite higher than neighbouring India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan.

The death rate is also far higher than Asia and the global rate, according to the statistics of worldometers.info.

In India, the rate of deaths among closed cases is 10.89 per cent, which is about five times lower than Bangladesh. India reported 37,336 cases so far, with 11,230 them closed. Of which 1,223 deaths and 10,007 recovery were reported.

In Sri Lanka, the rate of deaths among closed cases is 3.91 per cent, which is 12 times lower than Bangladesh.

Sri Lanka so far closed 179 cases among 690 patients, of which 172 of them recovered and seven died.

The rate of death in Bhutan is zero with five recovered among total seven cases while the rate of death in Nepal also remains zero while 16 of the total 59 cases recovered.

In Asian context, the death rate among closed cases is 6.42 per cent while the global rate of death among closed cases is 18.07 per cent.

When asked about the high death rate in Bangladesh, Directorate General of Health Services additional director general Nasima Sultana said that patients in the country are taking around a month to recover.

She said, ‘Deaths are occurring among serious cases, and most of them are elderly people with comorbidity.’

She said that the rate of deaths would decrease in the coming weeks as many people were not going through confirmatory tests who are taking treatment from home.

Bangladesh also shows exception regarding COVID-19 impact by age, the rate among minor below 10 is high in the country compared to global scenario.

The death rate from COVID-19 is 2 per cent among children below 10 in Bangladesh whereas the rate of deaths below 17 is 0.4 per cent globally, according to the statistics of worldometers.info.

The rate of deaths among people aged above 60 remained at the top of the list — with 42 per cent among patients above 60 years, 27 per cent among people in 51-60 years, 19 per cent among 41-50 years, 7 per cent among people among 31-40 years and 3 per cent among 21-30 years.

Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research adviser Mustuq Husain said that children are less likely to fall victim to social transmission as they do not go out like the adults.

‘It turns out that they get infected in their homes,’ he added and advised people to be careful about children in their families when they suspect symptoms among them.

 

[UKBengali]

Brother for middle class , lower middle class people it is urgent . Let me try and explain -

-middle class people we could neither beg, nor do we have enough savings to survive on and on .
- about 3.5 crore middle class have no income since last 2-3 months .
- still we gotta pay house rent , electricity bill , gas bill , water bill , dish line rent , internet line rent , credit card bill (lets say credit card and electricity bill can be pain within may without fine - but we still will need to pay them when we have had no income since last 3 month ).
- a lot of private companies didn’t pay the salaries , some pain 50%. Which is not enough to survive
- we don’t get listed in any Govt lists for ration or any other assistances .
- you are correct we can not solve everything by opening up but we will not die due to hunger.
-It is very clear to us that Govt have no plan and capacity to tackle this epidemic , neither enough honest people to help the people .
—And frankly this stupid lockdown is only in paper . People are on the street

here is a video to add to the perspective

I am not living in BD and only have relatives in the villages of Sylhet, and they luckily
have farmland and/or money from relatives in the UK and other countries overseas and so was not aware of this situation with the middle-class in other areas of BD.

Well in that case the BD government needs to provide enough food for them to survive and it should also cancel/reduce rents for some period of time as these two are the most expensive costs to survive. Is not the government providing apartments to a lot of city dwellers in Dhaka? In that case they can just do it easily themselves by not requiring anyone living in a government apartment to pay rent while the restrictive measures are in place.
If the government is asking people to stay at home then it has an obligation to make sure that they have shelter and food.

Yes the lockdown is not being fully implemented which is not a surprise in a country like BD but think of what may happen if all restrictions are lifted.

While it is undoubtedly true that BD population will be relatively unaffected as the population is much younger and healthier(less obesity), with the added advantage of the weather than is quite hostile for the virus to flourish, but this virus is a known killer and preys on the elderly - data from China suggests that the over 70s have at least a 10% fatality rate and I think that over 70s in BD are not likely to be much more resistant to this virus than in China.

Is BD willing to risk potentially 10% of everyone over 70 dying? If the answer is yes, then by all means remove all restrictions.

BD government needs to move on this fast and use a relatively good fiscal position to feed and house the population that has been neglected so far while slowly easing lockdown measures. It is not hard to see the template as other countries are already doing it.

It is not a case of lockdown versus no lockdown now but slowly moving things back to normal step by step, while making sure that everyone is being housed and fed.

 

[bluesky]

Brother for middle class , lower middle class people it is urgent . Let me try and explain -

-middle class people we could neither beg, nor do we have enough savings to survive on and on .
- about 3.5 crore middle class have no income since last 2-3 months .
- still we gotta pay house rent , electricity bill , gas bill , water bill , dish line rent , internet line rent , credit card bill (lets say credit card and electricity bill can be pain within may without fine - but we still will need to pay them when we have had no income since last 3 month ).
- a lot of private companies didn’t pay the salaries , some pain 50%. Which is not enough to survive
- we don’t get listed in any Govt lists for ration or any other assistances .
- you are correct we can not solve everything by opening up but we will not die due to hunger.
-It is very clear to us that Govt have no plan and capacity to tackle this epidemic , neither enough honest people to help the people .
—And frankly this stupid lockdown is only in paper . People are on the street

here is a video to add to the perspective

People are suffering due to CoVID-19 and no one really knows how long it will continue. Even 50 years before most middle/lower middle class had land properties in the villages where they would go and survive. Too many population has caused these people now without farmland.

By watching the last part of the video I think the govt is seriously thinking on the issue of supporting them. A little cash and ration (rice) would help them overcome the present dire situation. GoB should ask for foreign loan before the situation gets worse. House rent must wait for a few more days.

 

[VikingRaider]

Brother for middle class , lower middle class people it is urgent . Let me try and explain -

-middle class people we could neither beg, nor do we have enough savings to survive on and on .
- about 3.5 crore middle class have no income since last 2-3 months .
- still we gotta pay house rent , electricity bill , gas bill , water bill , dish line rent , internet line rent , credit card bill (lets say credit card and electricity bill can be pain within may without fine - but we still will need to pay them when we have had no income since last 3 month ).
- a lot of private companies didn’t pay the salaries , some pain 50%. Which is not enough to survive
- we don’t get listed in any Govt lists for ration or any other assistances .
- you are correct we can not solve everything by opening up but we will not die due to hunger.
-It is very clear to us that Govt have no plan and capacity to tackle this epidemic , neither enough honest people to help the people .
—And frankly this stupid lockdown is only in paper . People are on the street

here is a video to add to the perspective

I couldn't have said it better my self brother . You just read my mind!

People are suffering due to CoVID-19 and no one really knows how long it will continue. Even 50 years before most middle/lower middle class had land properties in the villages where they would go and survive. Too many population has caused these people now without farmland.

By watching the last part of the video I think the govt is seriously thinking on the issue of supporting them. A little cash and ration (rice) would help them overcome the present dire situation. GoB should ask for foreign loan before the situation gets worse. House rent must wait for a few more days.

TBH , if govt could declare emergency from 8 march for 2/3 weeks and deploy mass army , could ensure quarantine , the disease would not spread . The world is much advance in information technology and govt already knew about coronavirus . Still why did not they ensure quarantine when people were returning from Europe ?

At least when a plane brought back people from china and they were taken in quarantine , since then if govt strictly followed the rule for Europe return expats , then they would not need to lock down the country like that .

If govt can not control few expats in air port , then how they expect that they will control 170 millions of people?

Finally if we need autocracy , we need it in proper way . All ministers are just fuking talkative sycophants . Remember what they said ? They said that we are ready ?Instead of wasting time on ranting they really could be prepared .

They wasted lots of time , now wasting lots of money in the name of lock down . We seriously need herd immunity . I know they will go for it too , but after wasting more money and after screwing people .

I strongly believe that the lock down are just serving the people who are not needy . Let the middle class die , let them waste their hard earning savings , who care ? Rich people need to be safe from the contagious disease .

These middle class who are becoming jobless will suffer most. If you have no mental peace , you will be more vulnerable to any disease .

But who care ? No one I guess! Can govt feed all people of Bangladesh for months ? No they can not .

PS : My humble question is , you buy food , vegetables , meat , fish . Who will provide guaranty that people are selling such thing are not infected by corona virus ? Just symptoms are not showing ? Then who will buy the foods can be infected with their family , isn't it?

 

[ebr77]

I am not living in BD and only have relatives in the villages of Sylhet, and they luckily
have farmland and/or money from relatives in the UK and other countries overseas and so was not aware of this situation with the middle-class in other areas of BD.

Well in that case the BD government needs to provide enough food for them to survive and it should also cancel/reduce rents for some period of time as these two are the most expensive costs to survive. Is not the government providing apartments to a lot of city dwellers in Dhaka? In that case they can just do it easily themselves by not requiring anyone living in a government apartment to pay rent while the restrictive measures are in place.
If the government is asking people to stay at home then it has an obligation to make sure that they have shelter and food.

Yes the lockdown is not being fully implemented which is not a surprise in a country like BD but think of what may happen if all restrictions are lifted.

While it is undoubtedly true that BD population will be relatively unaffected as the population is much younger and healthier(less obesity), with the added advantage of the weather than is quite hostile for the virus to flourish, but this virus is a known killer and preys on the elderly - data from China suggests that the over 70s have at least a 10% fatality rate and I think that over 70s in BD are not likely to be much more resistant to this virus than in China.

Is BD willing to risk potentially 10% of everyone over 70 dying? If the answer is yes, then by all means remove all restrictions.

BD government needs to move on this fast and use a relatively good fiscal position to feed and house the population that has been neglected so far while slowly easing lockdown measures. It is not hard to see the template as other countries are already doing it.

It is not a case of lockdown versus no lockdown now but slowly moving things back to normal step by step, while making sure that everyone is being housed and fed.

I believe I don’t need to elaborate about chal chor , tel chor , dal chor - ( food distribution ) . Besides these social security program is for ultra poor . What about us - middle class and lower middle class .
There is a group in FB “ We Are Bangladesh “ where I recently saw posts - people said that as per some news they received they called 333 to receive help , but they were told to contact with chairman / member / aj / Kal ( ghurai sudhu )
Even those people that received 10 Kg rice , 2 kg daal -3 ltr oil - how long do you expect these to last ..

Bhai Govt provides housing to Govt employees only. Whereas rest of us need to live in rented apartments . Only a few homeowner being of good heart decided not to take rent or agreed for delay . But that is less than even 1% . Rest of the homeowners are asking us to pay them rent regularly .