Don’t panic but be prudent about coronavirus
While we are heartened by the Prime Minister's assurance that the government is taking all measures to make sure Bangladesh can handle the onslaught of the coronavirus, we cannot help but feel concerned regarding our preparedness for a possible epidemic, if it comes to that. With three confirmed cases in Bangladesh and given the intense density of population in our cities and towns, there is a new dimension that has been added to the crisis. Thus, the need for preparedness and for taking measures to minimise the suffering of people, should an outbreak of the virus occurs, cannot be emphasised enough.
True, the government has provided hotlines for the public to call and get help, but what about the actual healthcare facilities? According to experts, the high contagiousness of the virus warrants having healthcare facilities solely for Covid-19 patients so that it does not spread. Greater awareness regarding precautions are needed not only among the public, but also health professionals who will be in direct contact with patients. Although the government has started distributing personal protective equipment (PPE) to hospitals, there are still many hospitals that have not yet received them. PPEs and other necessary equipment and measures have to be in place in hospitals on an urgent basis, given the speed with which infection from this virus spreads, as we have seen globally. People have been advised to wash their hands frequently with soap and water as one of the basic preventive measures—how readily available are such facilities in densely populated areas like slums, in bazaars, in schools or even in health care complexes?
Of course there is no value in panicking and feeling helpless. But we must take all the measures that can be taken to prevent infections from spreading. It is a prudent move that the government has postponed the March 17 grand rally in view of the coronavirus crisis and with three confirmed cases in Bangladesh. We hope that other public gatherings will be kept on hold for the time being. We also expect the government will assess the situation and consider what precautions should be taken with regards to educational institutions. The public and health care professionals must stay on alert, especially with regard to the elderly, people with low immunity and those who already have pre-existing health conditions such as asthma and other respiratory problems, all of whom are particularly at risk of being severely affected if infected by the virus.
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