Combined action to curb coronavirus brings relief to Shibchar
The first case of coronavirus was identified on 13 March in Shibchar of Madaripur. Seven family members of the patient, who had returned from Italy, were very soon infected through him. This created panic in the area as well as across entire country. But due to combined and drastic measures, the situation in Shibchar improved rapidly.
Proper surveillance by the police, administration and health department, quick identification of infected and ensuring quarantine, quick response to the warning of the dire consequences by the people, delivery of food to the underprivileged and vulnerable people and delivery of protective equipment to health workers were the key factors that prevented the spread of coronavirus in Shibchar, it is believed.
Rajan Mahmud, president of the Madaripur district committee for Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan), told Prothom Alo that although there was improvement in tackling coronavirus in Shibchar, there were risks too.
Adding that a minor mistake in decision can bring terrible danger, he said, the locals must take lessons from the mistakes done in Dhaka, Narayanganj and Gazipur district.
The lockdown in Shibchar needs to be extended and the administration has to play an active role in maintaining social distance, he added. He also emphasised that government relief assistance should be continued for at least three more months.
Food aid has been distributed to more than 12,000 poor families in the upazila so far. This initiative has made it relatively easy to keep people at home
Shibchar upazila was declared a containment area from 19 March to prevent the spread of coronavirus. This was the first such incident in the country. Eight of the 17 victims across the country were from Shibchar till 19 March. On 5 April, three more people tested positive in the upazila. The administration put the whole Shibchar under lockdown. The number of coronavirus patients in the upazila was stable till 11 April. On 12 April, one of the neighbours of the first infected person tested positive for COVID-19. A teacher in the area then was also infected.
Shibchar upazila health and family planning officer Shashank Chandra Ghosh told Prothom Alo on Sunday noon that 17 people were infected with coronavirus in the upazila. There has been no new infection since 11 April. Eleven people recovered so far while four people are undergoing treatment in isolation. Two died of coronavirus in the upazila so far. The authorities are finding out who came in contact with the man who died last Saturday.
Upazila administration and health department officials said the government's Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) came to Shibchar soon after the announcement of the containment area. They make a list of the people who came in contact with the first infected patient. They collected samples and conducted tests and sent everyone to home quarantine. Shibchar handled the situation very successfully while other parts of the country grappled with the crisis.
As many as 684 expatriates returned to Shibchar from different counties after the outbreak spread across the world. IEDCR collected samples from at least 500 of them and conducted tests.
Besides, food aid has been distributed to more than 12,000 poor families in the upazila so far. This initiative has made it relatively easy to keep people at home.
Shibchar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Asaduzzaman said, “Shops and public transport have been closed in Shibchar upazila for more than a month to stop the virus transmission. The stores for daily essentials remain open for only four hours a day. All weekly markets are closed to avoid crowds.”
“By forming a committee up to the ward level, the administration is distributing food aid to the expatriates and the poor in the home quarantine. Safety equipment including PPE has been provided for field health workers. We are working with everyone to prevent the infection,” he added.
Madaripur assistant superintendent of police (Shibchar Circle) Abir Hossain said more than 250 police members were deployed to prevent transmission. One officer has been deployed in each union by the district administration office.
Besides, additional magistrates, army and RAB are patrolling the entire upazila, he added.
*This piece, originally appeared in Prothom Alo Bangla online, has been rewritten in English by Farjana Liakat