ZCZC
BSS-24
COVID-19-DEATH LEAD
Four more die of COVID-19, 139 fresh cases detected: health official
(updates with more information)
DHAKA, April 12, 2020 (BSS) – Bangladesh today reported four more deaths
from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) overnight, raising the death toll to 34
and recorded the highest number of 139 fresh positive cases in a single day
since the virus was first detected on March 8.
“Four more COVID-19 patients died in the last 24 hours, while the number of
coronavirus cases has stood at 621 as 139 more people have been infected by
the lethal virus during the time,” IEDCR Director Prof Dr Meerjady Sabrina
Flora told a virtual media briefing at the Directorate General of Health
Services (DGHS) in the city by joining it online.
Additional Director General (ADG) of DGHS Prof Dr Sania Tahmina also
addressed the briefing.
Flora said with the detection of fresh 139 cases in the last 24 hours, the
number of coronavirus cases has surged to 621 in the country, adding 298 of
them were found in Dhaka.
Among 621 COVID-19 cases, she said, 50 percent infected people are in
Dhaka city, while 35 percent patient are in different districts of Dhaka
division and six percent in Chattogram division.
The IEDCR director said of the 139 fresh cases, 96 are male and 43 female,
adding 62 are in Dhaka city and rests are in outside Dhaka city.
Four fresh districts have been included in the COVID-19-infected list,
Flora said adding the districts are Lakshmipur, Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon and
Jhalokathi.
“Analyzing the infected history of virus in the four districts, we have
found that infected-people came from Dhaka and Narayanganj within a week. So
we’re urging the people not to travel from one place to another place and
stay at home to protect themselves from infection of the disease,” she added.
The IEDCR director said they detected 139 cases in the 24 hours after
testing 1340 samples, which are highest in a single day since conformation of
COVID-19 cases in the country.
Of the four deaths, two are between 19 to 40 age while one in his 60s and
one in his 70s. Two are in Dhaka and other two fatalities are outside Dhaka,
Flora added.
Sania 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.
She said the government has so far collected nearly 7 lakh PPE, and of
them, 4,68,442 PPE were distributed at different hospitals of the country,
while the remaining are on the stock.
Sania said the government has taken decision to expand sample tests of
suspected COVID-19 cases to determine that how many people are infected by
the virus in the country.
“For this, we’re providing training to medical professionals including
health workers up to union level to collect samples linked to coronaviris for
quick detection of the disease,” she added.
Sania said over 70,000 people were kept at both home and institutional
quarantine, and at present around 20,000 people have been kept quarantine as
rests were released after medical clearance.
She said till today, over 21, 34, 629 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.
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/1700 HRS