Crowded Cattle Markets: DGHS worried over violation of safety rules

Health officials have voiced concern over violations of the health safety rules at cattle markets as the country yesterday recorded 225 deaths from Covid, the third-highest toll in a day.

People have been flocking to cattle markets all over the country to buy sacrificial animals ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha to be celebrated on July 21.

"As cattle markets are supervised by the local government ministry, we know they too are monitoring the situation. We think awareness and sense of responsibility among both sellers and buyers are important," said Dr Nazmul Islam, spokesperson for the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

He said the DGHS has already issued "specific suggestions" to all civil surgeons in this regard.

"There are teams led by civil surgeons and deputy commissioners [in all districts]. They are all supervising [the issue of following health safety rules] … If everyone played his or her due role, the health safety guidelines can be maintained a little better," he said at a virtual briefing yesterday.

Hours later, the DGHS in its daily press release reported a spike in Covid-19 casualties and new cases in the 24 hours till 8:00am yesterday.

On July 11, the country logged the highest daily deaths -- 230. July 15 saw the second-highest death toll of 226.

With the latest count, the total number of deaths rose to 17,894, which is around 1.62 percent of the virus cases detected so far.

In the 24 hours, 11,578 people tested positive for the virus -- up from 8,489 the previous day.

The positivity rate was 29.09 percent yesterday. It was 29.06 percent the previous day.

The total number of Covid patients undergoing treatment stood at 154,087 yesterday.

Of them, 13,901 were receiving treatment at various Covid-dedicated hospitals across the country as of yesterday noon, according to the Covid-19 Dynamic Dashboard of the DGHS.

As in the previous day, Dhaka Division saw the highest 60 deaths from the virus, followed by 54 in Khulna Division.

Among other divisions, 40 Covid patients died in Chattogram, 20 in Rajshahi, 14 each in Sylhet, Rangpur and Mymensingh, and nine in Barishal.

RAPID COVID TEST AT 9 CATTLE MARKETS

Brac has launched antigen-based Covid-19 rapid tests at nine cattle markets yesterday, said a press release.

The initiative is being implemented with the help of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC). The DGHS is providing necessary support to set up a Surokkha corner in each of these cattle markets.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) of the Government of UK is supporting BRAC and the DGHS in this effort.

DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam inaugurated it at the cattle market at Sayeednagar in Bhatara area yesterday.

The service will be available from 8:00am to 8:00pm every day and will continue till July 20.

Speaking as chief guest at the inauguration, Atiqul said, "This is truly a praiseworthy initiative from Brac at this moment of crisis of the pandemic. We are calling on other organisations to come forward with such initiatives..."