Virus Transmission: If not checked, situation may turn grave

Health Minister Zahid Maleque yesterday said the Covid-19 situation in the country will turn grave unless the transmission of the virus is controlled.

"Unless we can control corona [novel coronavirus infection], the situation will become even tougher," he said while addressing a seminar -- "Challenges of Covid Pandemic and Dengue Outbreak" -- as chief guest.

The event was organised by Bangladesh Society of Medicine in association with US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in Dhaka.

"The transmission has declined a little bit in recent days; but the number of deaths is still higher. We have to keep this transmission under control. For this, we have to adhere to health rules. Crowded buses and trains will only worsen the situation," the minister said.

However, the country yesterday recorded the lowest Covid-19 deaths -- 215 -- in the past 10 days.

Since August 2, the positivity rate has been declining steadily.

Yesterday, the positivity rate was 22.46 percent while it was around 30 on August 2.

A total of 10,126 Covid-19 cases were detected yesterday -- the lowest since Monday.

In the seminar, the health minister also said the government is trying to vaccinate everyone gradually.

"We cannot vaccinate the entire population at once. People need to be patient," he said, adding, "We are gradually vaccinating everyone. Millions have already registered."

Bangladesh can neither obtain nor store all the vaccines needed to inoculate 80 percent of the total population at once, he said.

"In order to vaccinate 80 percent, 26-27 crore doses will be required. We are trying to bring in whatever quantity of vaccine doses available.

"The world's largest countries have developed and stockpiled on vaccines. They have stocked four to five times more than they need, while many countries are yet to receive vaccine doses."

He further said, "Those who are always criticising ask where vaccines are when we don't have enough. When we do, they ask why so many people turn up to get jabs. It seems, either way, they have problems. It's very easy to criticise."

About vaccine supply, Zahid Maleque said, "54 lakh more vaccine doses will reach within next one week and around one crore in total by this month. The vaccination programme will continue."

Speaking at the seminar, Prof Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, director of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), said, "If the infection rate further rises, it cannot be tackled. We have already increased hospital beds, but that has a limit too. It is not possible to increase them further."

Other speakers stressed on preventive measures against Covid-19 and dengue to reduce pressure on hospitals.

Prof Md Billal Alam, president of Bangladesh Society of Medicine, presided over the event, while Dr Mohammad Shahidullah, president of the National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19, Dr Nazmul Islam, line director (Communicable Disease Control) of the DGHS also spoke at the event among others.