Covid-19: 12 dists at high risk

The number of coronavirus cases has continued to increase rapidly with the health directorate reporting 9,500 fresh cases yesterday, 1,093 up from the previous day.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), this is the highest single-day count after 10,126 cases on August 12.

Against a total of 37,830 tests, the positivity rate was 25.11 percent yesterday, the highest since August 8. Besides, 12 Covid-19 patients died in the same period.

Fueled by the Omicron variant, the country has been witnessing the third wave of Covid-19 since the beginning of January.

The ongoing spike in Covid-19 cases has put 12 districts, including Dhaka, at high risk, according to the weekly analysis of the DGHS till Sunday.

Regions above 10 percent positivity rate are considered as high-risk, between 5 and 10 percent as medium-risk, and below 5 percent as low-risk zones, as per the DGHS.

Other high-risk districts were Chattogram, Rajshahi, Jashore, Kushtia, Bogura, Gazipur, Dinajpur, Lalmonirhat, Panchagarh, Rangamati, and Khagrachhari.

Meanwhile, 32 districts were at medium risk, including Sylhet, Feni, Narayanganj, Cox's Bazar, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur, and Thakurgaon.

The DGHS has described the situation as "concerning".

The number of Coivd-19 patients has increased by 228 percent this week till Tuesday, compared to the previous week, DGHS spokesperson Dr Nazmul Islam said in an online briefing yesterday.

During the same period, the number of deaths has also increased by 185 percent.

Nazmul said, "Latest statistics showed that the Delta variant has been spreading more [than the Omicron]. So we have no chance to be insincere."

He said that the number of patients has not increased in the hospitals, despite the rise in cases. "But there is no room for complacency."

According to the DGHS data, the overall bed occupancy in the Covid-19 hospitals countrywide has increased to 16 percent while it was 6 percent on January 1.

'DISTRIBUTE FREE MASKS'

The National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) on Covid-19 has recommended distributing masks free of cost to contain the coronavirus.

Besides, the committee has asked to ensure the isolation of Covid-19 patients for up to 10 days. Those who came in close contact with the positive patients would not need quarantine but they must wear masks.

They came up with the recommendations at an online meeting on Tuesday night, read a press release signed by NTAC President Dr Mohammad Shahidullah yesterday.

For the effective implementation of the recently issued 11-point directives by the government, the committee recommended engaging all stakeholders from all sectors including transports, shopkeepers, restaurants, etc.

The committee also recommended strengthening the screening process at all entry points to the country.