Second wave if infections rise for another week: Experts

Perhaps, we are going to step into the second wave of coronavirus.

In the past one week till 1 November, infections rose by about 2% from the previous week. And experts say if cases rise for a second straight week, we can say the second wave has begun.

From the end of September to mid-October, the coronavirus infection rate in the country fluctuated between 10% and 11%. But throughout the last week, it swayed between 11% and 13%.

Besides, the number of daily cases is also increasing.

Experts say if proper measures are not taken to control the infection, the second wave of the virus will be harder to deal with.

From 26 October to 1 November, the country recorded 10,437 cases but the confirmed cases in the previous week (19-25 October) were 10,246, according to the World Health Organization's (WHO) latest report.

Dr M Mushtuq Hussain, an adviser at the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), said it is a matter of concern as the infection is growing again.

Covid-19 cases are always more in number in Dhaka and Chattogram divisions. But now, they are rising in Sylhet too, and the division has already entered the red zone, added Mushtuq.

As of 2 November, about 67% of the reported cases hailed from Dhaka division while over 12% from Chattogram, over 5% from Khulna and Rajshahi each, over 3% from Sylhet and Rangpur each, more than 2% from Barishal and nearly 2% from Mymensingh, according to the WHO report.

Professor Nazrul Islam, a noted virologist and former vice chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, said wearing masks should be made mandatory to control the infection.

It should be ensured that ICUs have been set up in district level hospitals as per the instructions of the prime minister to deal with the second wave, he also said.

Besides, oxygen supply should also be increased in upazila level hospitals. Otherwise, dealing with the second wave will be more difficult, he added.

In an inter-ministerial meeting on Tuesday, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said there is no alternative to adhering to health regulations to deal with the second wave of coronavirus in the country.

"Now, there is no alternative to wearing masks. Steps will be taken soon to make it mandatory for everyone to wear a mask until the vaccine comes to the country."

Covid-19 death toll nears 6,000

Meanwhile, Bangladesh confirmed 17 more deaths from the novel coronavirus in the last 24 hours till Tuesday 8am.

The country's death toll from the virus now stands at 5,983, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

In the meantime, 1,659 people have tested positive for Covid-19, and the number of cases in the country now stands at 4,12,647.

The latest daily infection rate was 11.80% though the overall rate in the country till date is 17.37%. The death rate stands at 1.45%.

Among the fresh victims, 16 were men and one was woman. They passed away in different hospitals across the country, according to a press release by the DGHS.

Meanwhile, 14,061 samples were tested in 113 labs across the country in the past 24 hours. A total of 23,75,763 samples have been tested in the country so far.

Also, 1,886 patients were declared free of Covid-19 during the same period, raising the total number of recoveries to 3,29,787 at a rate of almost 80%.

The country's maiden cases were reported on 8 March this year, and the first death from the virus was confirmed on 18 March.