Noted physicians and members of professional bodies of the healthcare sector have urged the government to enforce complete lockdown.
A dangerous situation looms ahead of the country due to novel coronavirus, they warned.
They made the call at a meeting with health minister Zahid Maleque at Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons (BCPS) auditorium in the city’s Mohakhali area on Monday.
The physicians and experts gave the government a five-point suggestion during the meeting.
A source present at the meeting told Prothom Alo that the healthcare professionals said Bangladesh is going through the community transmission phase of coronavirus.
Death rate due to coronavirus is more than 10 per cent in Bangladesh, which is higher than in the countries where it has become an epidemic. The number of patients has doubled in a single day.
The physicians think that Bangladesh should be on ‘high alert’ as per the direction of the World Health Organization (WHO), otherwise the situation would go beyond control.
Bangladesh Medicine Society’s general secretary Ahmedul Kabir said the coronavirus situation is likely to take a dangerous turn in the next 10 days if lockdown is not enforced.
Terming the situation in the country as alarming, director of National Neurosciences Institute and Hospital Deen Mohammad suggested strict measures soon.
The physicians also suggested an increased number of tests.
They think the situation has exacerbated due to the exodus of people in large numbers from Dhaka after the declaration of general holidays and return of garment workers in Dhaka.
The meeting observes that the real picture of coronavirus infection in the country would not be found without testing.
Pressurizing the physicians to keep their personal chambers and outdoor service open will only worsen the situation since the global statistics reveal that 48 per cent of infection has happened through healthcare workers, the physicians said.
They said if a patient comes to chamber or outdoor service, healthcare workers or other patients would be exposed to the virus.
As a solution, they proposed extending and strengthening emergency services and providing treatment over the phone.
The participants of the meeting also suggested giving incentives to those who are providing emergency services.
Health services division secretary Asadul Islam, medical education and family welfare division’s secretary Ali Noor, Bangladesh Medical Association’s president Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, director general of DGHS Abul Kalam Azad, Swadhinata Chikitsok Parishad’s president Iqbal Arsalan and general secretary MA Aziz, among others, were present at the meeting.