Covid-19 Symptoms: Some 900 dead in three months

Some 900 people died after showing coronavirus symptoms across the country between March 8 and May 31. Of them, 72 people died in March, 319 in April and 509 in May, according to a report.

A team of Bangladeshi students of local and foreign universities, researchers, IT developers and freelancers prepared the report, analysing contents of news portals and online versions of different national dailies. A copy of the report was sent to this newspaper yesterday.

The report said the media outlets reported about "coronavirus symptoms" in case of 390 deaths without mentioning any specific symptoms. 

As many as 382 had at least two of the symptoms; fever, cough, respiratory problem, and cold. Besides, 214 people showed at least three of the symptoms, it said.

The report also said samples of 497 were collected for the coronavirus test while samples from 96 were not. There was no mention of sample collection in case of the others.

It, however, did not mention the test results.

Of 497 collected samples, 407 were taken from the dead.

According to the report, 229 people died at home, 69 on the way to hospital, and 544 after being admitted to hospitals.

Of those who passed away at home, 2.18 percent died after one or more hospitals refused to provide them with any kind of treatment in fear of coronavirus transmission, the report added.

It said 21 people were found dead outside their homes. In some cases, the bodies were left untouched for a long time out of fear until police would recover them.

Of the total deceased, 578 were males, 210 females and gender of 112 others were not mentioned.

The report also said 65 of the deceased were aged up to 19 years, 152 between 20 and 39 years, and the rest were 40 or above.

It said 91 of the deceased were identified as farmers, labourers, garment workers, rickshaw-pullers and drivers, fishermen and boatmen.

Thirty-two were employees of different organisations, 30 were traders and shop owners, 29 students, 17 small traders and hawkers, 13 physicians, dentists and health workers, nine teachers of universities, colleges, schools and madrasas, 11 officials and bankers, 10 members of police, Ansar and navy, and seven journalists and cultural activists.

As many as 213 were children, elderly, retired and disabled persons, 123 housewives while the occupational identity of 294 people was not mentioned.

District-wise, the highest 98 people died in Dhaka followed by 43 in Narayanganj.

Upazila-wise, the highest 17 people died in Narayanganj Sadar followed by 11 in Keraniganj of Dhaka and 10 in Rupganj of Narayanganj, according to the report.