Fewer infections from fewer tests

The number of new cases of Covid-19 fluctuates, partly depending on the volume of samples tested in a span of 24 hours. When Bangladesh facilitates more testing of samples, the number of coronavirus infections goes up.

From an analysis on the number of tests and infections, it has been apparent that when the tests are fewer, the cases are fewer too.

Bangladesh reported the highest number of cases - 1,034 from 7,208 samples – on Monday, but it found fewer cases on Tuesday by carrying out tests on a fewer number of samples.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Tuesday confirmed that 435 fewer samples were tested than that of the previous day and found 95 fewer infections.

In this situation, the government allowed opening of shopping centres and markets on a limited scale. People are also not maintaining social distancing and health safety guidelines.

National Technical Advisory Committee – formed to seek recommendations to tackle the Covid-19 outbreak – fearing proliferation of infections has already recommended Health Minister Zahid Maleque to extend the public holidays as the coronavirus cases and deaths are increasing gradually.

Meanwhile, the government may extend the ongoing general holiday up to the end of May with some additional instructions to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country. According to sources, the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays may be included in it.

Prof Nasima Sultana, additional director general of DGHS, in a virtual briefing on Tuesday, said the tally of coronavirus infections climbed to 16,660 and the death toll from the pandemic to 250. 

She said, "969 new cases have been found after testing 6,773 samples in 38 labs in the last 24 hours across the country. We sadly confirmed 11 more deaths from the novel coronavirus." 

She said a new lab of Noakhali Science and Information Technology University has joined the existing 37 PCR labs. 

Dr Nasima said, "Of the 11 deceased, five were residents of Dhaka city, one hailed from Narayanganj, one from Narsingdi, two from Chattogram division and one from Sylhet division."

While sharing the age-wise analysis of the deceased, Nasima said two were in their 70s, five in their 60s, three in their 50s and one in his 40s. Of the fatalities, seven were males and four females.

Recovery from coronavirus infections count rose to 3,147 after 245 patients were discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours.

Bangladesh confirmed the first coronavirus death on March 18, ten days after the detection of the first Covid-19 case.

"Among the total infections, 18.52 percent patients have recovered so far while 1.53 percent died,'' said Prof Nasima Sultana.

Nasima said nearly 75 percent of the Covid-19 patients are taking treatment from their homes, and many of them are being cured every day after receiving treatment through hotlines.