Cases, deaths double in two weeks

The numbers of Covid-19 cases and deaths have more than doubled in less than two weeks.

Yesterday, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) daily briefing reported the highest number of deaths – 22 -- and positive cases -- 1,773.

With this, the death toll now stands at 408 and the number of positive cases at 28,511. The country detected its first Covid-19 case on March 8.

Eight weeks after that, the number of detected cases jumped to 12,425, and 199 people died by May 8.

Experts earlier warned that positive cases will rise in May.

In a report submitted to the DGHS in the first week of this month, an eight-member committee appointed by the government said the outbreak might peak in the third or fourth week of this month and the situation would remain unchanged for almost two weeks, or until the first week of June.

The health ministry in late March formed the committee to supervise, monitor and support the coronavirus response.

Record shows that in the last 10 days, the number of positive cases persistently remained over 1,000 except on May 12 and May 16 when the number was 969 and 930 respectively as a result of fewer tests conducted.

The total number of tests was below 7,000 on those days.

Speaking to this correspondent on Wednesday, Prof Muzaherul Huq, former adviser (Southeast Asia Region) of the World Health Organization, said there are many people left beyond the coverage of sample testing.

"We won't be able to tell the actual rate and spread of infection until we can increase the number of daily tests," he said, suggesting that the government increase tests.

Prof Dr Nasima Sultana, additional director general (administration) of the DGHS, said the highest number of tests -- 10,262 -- were conducted in 47 labs in 24 hours from Wednesday morning. Four new labs are now conducting tests.

Of the 22 reported dead in 24 hours since Wednesday morning, 10 were from Dhaka, eight from Chattogram, three from Sylhet and another was from Mymensingh.

Of them, 19 were male and three female, the DGHS official said, adding that two of them were aged between 11-20, one between 31-40, two between 41-50, 10 between 51-60, three between 61-70, two between 71-80 and the other two between 81-90.

Meanwhile, 395 Covid-19 patients have recovered since yesterday, taking the total number of recoveries to 5,602, she added.

Around 154 people were put into isolation in the last 24 hours.