The government is taking special measures to prevent coronavirus infection. From Sunday (June 15), the Health Department will conduct follow-ups on COVID-19 positive patients over the next month. This process aims to monitor and gather information about new variants of the coronavirus.
Professor Dr Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (with the rank of State Minister), shared this information in an interview with Jago News on Sunday afternoon.
He said there is currently no cause for panic regarding coronavirus infection. However, he emphasized that precautionary measures remain essential to avoid infection, especially for the elderly and those suffering from various non-communicable diseases.
When asked about the current percentage of COVID-19 positive cases in the capital and across the country, Dr. Rahman noted that very few people are coming forward for sample testing—likely no more than a hundred. Therefore, calculating the percentage from such a small sample size would not provide an accurate picture.
Among the limited samples tested, the infection rate ranges between 8 and 12 percent. On one particular day, it exceeded 13 percent. However, Dr. Rahman reiterated that these percentages do not reflect the true situation.
According to the Health Department’s data, only one death has been confirmed as truly caused by coronavirus. Several others who died, including that individual, were all over 60 years old. He noted that elderly people remain more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection.
The latest regular press release on coronavirus from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), issued on Saturday (June 14), stated that out of 139 samples tested nationwide in the past 24 hours, seven tested positive for coronavirus. No deaths were reported during the same period.
The release further detailed that among the 139 samples, four tested positive out of 84 samples from Dhaka, and three tested positive out of 54 samples from Chattogram. One sample tested in Sylhet was negative. Additionally, five hospitalized patients have recovered.
