Age group 31-40 the worst-affected
Covid-19 infection rate in Chattogram is highest among people aged between 31 and 40 while the death rate is highest among those above 60, according to the civil surgeon's office.
The infection rate among 31 to 40 years old is highest 23.53 percent while death rate 4.5 percent. On the other hand, infection rate in people over 60 years is 13.2 percent but death rate 55.5 percent, office sources said.
The data has been recorded since the virus hit the country last year.
Asked, Prof Dr Shakeel Ahmed, a public health expert and head of Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (BITID) Laboratory, pointed out a number of reasons behind the scenario.
"We are not vaccinating people under 40 but they are going outside frequently," he said, adding, "Some go out of home for necessity but many do so for hanging around or chitchatting."
"These people are reluctant to maintain social distancing and use facemasks," said Dr Shakeel.
The morality rate is comparatively lower among them as their immune system is stronger than the elderly people, he said. On the other hand, as old people do not frequently move outside and most of them follow health rules, infection rate is lower in this age group, said Dr Shakeel.
"The elderly mostly suffer from various diseases. When they are infected, their weak immune system can't fight with coronavirus in most cases," he said.
Echoing the same, Dr Aniruddha Ghosh, professor of medicine at Chattogram Medical College Hospital, said, "Although the death rate in young people is low, they transmit the virus to old family members."
According to the data of Chattogram Civil Surgeon Office, a total of 42,715 cases have been detected out of 3,64,476 samples tested so far in Chattogram. A total of 400 Covid-19 patients so far died.
SECOND DOSE OF VACCINATION STARTS
Meanwhile, second dose of vaccination of Covid-19 started at 33 centres in Chattogram city and 14 upazila health complexes, said Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr Asif Khan.
A total of 4,36,615 people received the first dose so far till April 7, he said.
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