Half the samples in 3 days tested positive in Wari

Almost 50 percent of the people who gave samples for the Covid-19 test in the Wari area of Dhaka in the last three days have tested positive. The area was recently locked-down.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh revealed the information to the media following a coordination meeting of the Central Management Committee at the DSCC on Tuesday.

This scenario justifies the reason for putting the area under lockdown, said Taposh.

He also said they have decided to implement the lockdown strictly in order to curb virus transmission in Wari.

"We want to fully stop people from commuting in and out of the area. We understand people are having trouble, but we have to be more conscious and strictly follow the lockdown and health safety rules," the mayor added.

The government put Wari under 21-day lockdown beginning on Saturday last to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

From the very first day of the lockdown, local residents expressed frustration, and tried to go outside without maintaining the health safety directives.

Local sources said most of the residents of Wari are businessmen who have businesses in the capital's Nawabpur area which remains open as no lockdown has been implemented there.

Previously, the residents had sought the authorities' permission to be allowed outside on a limited scale.

However, in the coordination meeting, Mayor Taposh clearly stated that life will be prioritised before livelihood.

"Without life, there is no livelihood. Besides, we do not have any directive [from higher authorities] to allow people to go out of the area."

He urged people to be patient, follow the health safety rules and help the authorities in implementing the lockdown properly.

95% patients test negative in East Rajabazar

On June 10, East Rajabazar in Dhaka was locked down on a pilot basis to curb the spread of Covid-19 there. At that time, there were 31 confirmed Covid-19 cases which sharply went up to 55 in a few days.

Masud Hossain Sumon, the coordinator of volunteers in implementing the lockdown in East Rajabazar, on Tuesday claimed that 95 percent of Covid-19-infected people have already tested negative in that area.

"Booths for collecting Covid-19 samples are still running. Now, only one person on an average tests positive per day for the virus in East Rajabazar. I believe there is no alternative to the area-based lockdown and the zoning system."

However, at the end of the day, breaking the virus chain mostly depends on people's movement and maintaining social distancing, added Sumon.