Five more die with coronavirus-like symptoms, areas locked down

A 12-year-old girl died in Jashore General Hospital on Monday.

The girl was kept in the isolation unit of the hospital as she had been suffering from a cough, breathing difficulties, runny nose, and fever – common symptoms of Covid-19 – for several days.

After her death, the hospital authorities contacted the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) and wanted to send her samples for a coronavirus test. However, IEDCR officials told them that there was no need to test the samples of the deceased.

Assistant Director of Jashore General Hospital Dr Harun-ur-Rashid told The Business Standard they assumed that the girl was infected with the new coronavirus as she had all its symptoms.

"We notified the IEDCR about the symptoms and the history of the disease, but they said there was no need to test the patient's samples," he said, adding, "They [IEDCR officials] told me that the girl had not been infected with the coronavirus."

Meanwhile, the local administration locked down five houses in Chowgachha upazila of Jashore after the girl's death.

Like this girl, four other persons died across the country with coronavirus symptoms on Monday. There were six such deaths the previous day.

However, the IEDCR has yet to test the samples of the deceased to confirm whether they had been infected with the novel coronavirus.

IEDCR Director Meerjady Sabrina Flora, at a press conference on Monday, said no more Covid-19 deaths have been reported across the country in the previous 24 hours. Health Minister Dr Zahid Maleque also attended the press briefing via video conference.

Asked for their comments over the death of a number people across the country with symptoms like those of Covid-19, in the last few days, both the health minister and the IEDCR director refrained from commenting.

Even though the IEDCR did not test the samples of the persons who had died with coronavirus symptoms, the administration put the family members and neighbours of the deceased under lockdown. 

Health experts said the government should increase the capacity to test people and isolate individuals found positive for the novel coronavirus. 

Vice-Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Professor Kanak Kanti Barua said, "It is crucial to boost testing capacity to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the country."

"I believe the government is working on this as testing kits are available now," he said.

In Kushtia, a 51-year-old man who had been suffering from a cold, cough, fever, and breathing problems – for the past three days – died at Kushtia General Hospital on Monday morning.

"The body will be buried in accordance with the instructions of the IEDCR," Civil Surgeon of Kushtia HM Anwarul Islam told The Business Standard. 

"Samples have been collected for testing as per the directions of the IEDCR," he said.

"We locked-down 10 houses including the one of the deceased," he added.

In Sherpur, a man died on Monday with symptoms of Covid-19. The man, a resident of Polashikura village in Nolitabari upazila of the district, had been suffering from a cough, difficulty breathing, and fever for three days.

Civil Surgeon of Sherpur Dr AKM Anwarur Raouf told The Business Standard that they had collected samples of the deceased and locked down 10 houses in his locality.

In Dinajpur, a 30-year-old man from Tofshi village, under the Sadar upazila, died at his home in the wee hours of Monday.

Citing family members of the deceased, Dinajpur Civil Surgeon Abdul Kuddus said the man's symptoms had included a fever, cough and breathing difficulties. 

At least 150 people of 30 families have been sent to home-quarantine after his death.

In Munshiganj, a youth who had been suffering from a fever and cough died in the early hours of Monday.

Gozaria Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Taslima Akhter said the boy was admitted to the upazila health complex on Sunday night.

The patient was referred to Dhaka after his condition deteriorated, but he died on the way to the capital.