Easing lockdown may increase infection rate: Technical committee

The national technical advisory committee to check Covid-19, in its sixth meeting, said if the rules, guidelines and restrictions, issued to contain the spread of coronavirus, are eased instead of imposing those properly, the number of patients will increase extensively and health sector will be under immense pressure.

In a recommendation letter today, signed by committee president Professor Dr. Mohammod Shahidullah, it said, Covid-19 is a contagious disease, which spreads through cough and touch. This virus spreads rapidly in the crowd. Other countries experienced rise in the number of positive patients after withdrawing lockdown before the infection rate fell to a certain level. Bangladesh's national committee suggested about not to ease lockdown earlier on May 7. 

The committee appreciated the Health Ministry decision on treating Covid-19 and general patients in same hospital with separate arrangement. However, they emphasized on ensuring required administration, institutional, manpower and equipment for it.

The national committee also suggested not to use malaria drug - hydroxychloroquine - for treating coronavirus patients. 

"The World Health Organization (WHO) suspended the clinical trial of the drug due to health risks and  European governments also moved on to halt the use of the anti-malaria drug. So, the national technical advisory committee is advising not to keep the drug - hydroxychloroquine - in the guidelines," reads a press release.

A recent study published in the medical journal The Lancet on May 22, found that the use of hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of coronavirus did not work. In fact it increased the risk of death in hospitalised patients.

Hydroxychloroquine is effective in the treatment of malaria. But there is no evidence that it is effective in the case of Covid-19.