ZCZC
BSS-29
COVID-19-DEATH-LEAD
One more dies of Covid-19, 112 fresh cases detected: Maleque
(updates with more information)
DHAKA, April 9, 2020 (BSS) – Bangladesh today reported one more death from
the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) overnight, raising the death toll to 21 and
confirmed 112 fresh positive cases.
“One more Covid-19 patient died in the last 24 hours, while the number of
coronavirus cases has stood at 330 as 112 more people have been infected by
the lethal virus during the time,” Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid
Maleque told a virtual media briefing at the Directorate General of Health
Services (DGHS) in the city through joining it online.
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief and Secretary General of
Bangladesh Private Medical College Association (BPMCA) Dr. Md. Enamur Rahman,
BPMCA President Mubin Khan, DGHS Director General Prof Dr Abul Kalam Azad and
Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) Director Prof
Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora and Additional Director General (ADG) of DGHS Prof
Dr Sania Tahmina joined the briefing.
Referring to his meeting with Chinese COVID-19 experts through a
videoconference, the health minister said the Chinese experts suggested the
people to stay at home and the authorities concerned to increase the number
of sample test to curb the deadly virus.
“So, I am urging the people to stay at home for protecting themselves from
infection of coronavirus,” he said.
Pointing out that the government had taken necessary preparations to
contain the disease in the country after its detection in China, Maleque said
at present there is a total of 550 ventilators at the government hospitals,
while a process is underway to buy 380 more ventilators.
As part of increasing medical facilities, he informed, a hospital with
2000 isolation beds would be prepared within 10 to 15 days at the
Bashundhdhra Convention Centre in Kuril.
“Simultaneously a newly-constructed market and four buildings will be kept
ready as isolation centres with 2600 beds in Dhaka city to fight the COVID-
19,” the health minister said.
Mentioning that the country has 69 private medical colleges and hospitals,
Enamur said these facilities will provide healthcare services to the people
round the clock during this crisis.
“The medical colleges and hospitals will provide services to the people to
supplement the government efforts to contain COVID-19,” he said.
Flora said with the detection of fresh 112 cases in the last 24 hours, the
number of coronavirus cases spiked to 330 in the country, adding 185 of them
were found in Dhaka.
She said among the new COVID-29 cases, 62 are in Dhaka, 13 in Narayanganj
and others are in different districts. Of the fresh COVID-19 cases, 70 are
male and 42 female, she added.
The IEDCR director called Dhaka and Narayanganj COVID-19 “hotspots” as
maximum number of cases were detected in the two cities. She said 59 people
have so far tested positive in Narayanganj district.
Flora said the fresh 112 cases were detected as “we have tested 1097
samples through 16 labs across the country in the last 24 hours.”
The IEDCR director said among the newly COVID-19 cases, three were
children, nine between 10 to 20 while 25 were in their 20s, 24 in their 30s,
17 in their 40s, 23 in their 50s and 11 in the 60s.
Analyzing the infected history of the patients, Flora said rampant movement
of the coronavirus patients is mainly responsible for increasing COVID-19
positive cases.
She put emphasis on staying at home alongside following hygienic practices
including washing hands with soap and wearing masks to contain COVID-19.
Sania said 69,810 people were so far kept at both home and institutional
quarantine, and the number of people remain currently in quarantine is 10787
as rests were released after medical clearance.
She said till today 18.5 lakh people received healthcare services from
hotline mobile numbers and health web portals as the government formed a
group of medical professionals to provide emergency health services.
Sania said the government by now prepared 7,693 isolation beds at
different hospitals in the country to be run under a 23-point health
guideline prescribing isolation and quarantine arrangements, PPE usage and
hygienic environment.
She said as the number of COVID-19 infected case is on the rise in the
country, the government has intensified its efforts including collection of
protective equipment such PPE, surgical masks alongside increasing medical
facilities for coronavirus infected patients.
The contact hotline and mobile numbers are 16263; 333; 10655 and
01944333222 – to receive information and treatment facilities on Covid-19.
BSS/ASG/MMR/SH/1800 HRS