Coronavirus spreads to 58 districts

The number of novel coronavirus cases has been on a steady increase over the last few days in Chattogram and Mymensingh divisions. While the number hasn’t exceeded 100 in the two divisions as yet, the curve is going up in Rangpur and Barishal divisions, too. The number of cases in Sylhet, Khulna and Rajshahi divisions has been relatively lower in comparison to the other districts.

The outbreak of coronavirus has been the highest in Dhaka from the outset. Till now, 94 per cent of the cases are in this division.

The majority of the patients are in Dhaka division. Of them, over 1000, that is 41 per cent, are in the capital city Dhaka. After that, district-wise, Narayanganj has the highest number of cases at 508.

The first case in the country was reported by the government’s Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR). So far, 46 days since the detection of the first case, the virus has spread to 58 of the country’s 64 districts.

Till 5 April, cases had only been detected in 11 districts. That means, over the past 17 days, the virus has spread to 47 more districts. Three districts were affected over the past 24 hours. These are Kushtia, Magura and Meherpur.

The six districts where coronavirus hasn’t been detected as yet are two of Chittagong Hill Tracts – Khagrachhari and Rangamati, the island district Bhola, two districts in Khulna division – Jhenaidah and Satkhira, and Natore of Rajshahi division.

Till Wednesday, a total of 3,772 cases have been confirmed in the country.

The majority of the patients are in Dhaka division. Of them, over 1000, that is 41 per cent, are in the capital city Dhaka. After that, district-wise, Narayanganj has the highest number of cases at 508. Gazipur has 269 cases, Narsingdi 136, and Kishoreganj 146.

Increase in Chattogram

Till 5 April, of the 11 districts in Chattogram division, three cases were detected in Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar and Cumilla.

By 12 April in Chattogram division there were 35 confirmed cases in 9 districts. The highest number was in Chattogram district at 42. There was 25 in Laxmipur and 25 in Cumilla. Over the past 24 hours, another 17 tested positive. Of them, 13 are in Brahmanbaria. Recently thousands of people gathered together there for a funeral.

Among the 3 districts of Chittagong Hill Tracts, there have been 4 coronavirus cases in Bandarban but none in Rangamati and Khagrachhari.

After Dhaka, Chattogram division has the highest number of coronavirus cases. This division has 4.76 per cent of the cases.

Increase in Mymensingh

Coronavirus is spreading rapidly in Mymensingh division which neighbours Dhaka and which, district-wise, now has the third highest number of confirmed cases. It has 3.90 per cent of the total cases.

The confirmed cases are in all four districts of the division. Till 12 April there were 14 patients in the four districts. Of them, 6 were in Jamalpur, 5 in Mymensingh, 2 in Sherpur and 1 in Netrakona. There are now 132 cases in the division, with 62 in Mymensingh, 29 in Jamalpur, 22 in Netrakona and 19 in Sherpur.

Epidemiologist Mushtaq Hossain has said that it will not be possible to contain the spread of the virus only by staying at home, following the health rules, and enforcing the lockdown. Rapid response teams must be formed in the districts and upazilas. Testing must be carried out from house to house to confirm cases.

Local people say that most of the infection was spread by persons coming in from Narayanganj and Dhaka.

Less in Khulna, Sylhet and Rajshahi

Of the 6 districts in the country where there are no confirmed cases, 3 are in Khulna division. There are 10 districts in this division. Till 12 April, there was only one patient in the division, in Chuadanga. So far cases have been confirmed in 7 districts of the division. Three of these were detected over the last 24 hours. This division has only 0.71 per cent of the total patients.

Confirmed cases have been found in four districts of Sylhet division. Till 12 April, 4 cases had been confirmed there. Till Wednesday this number has come up to 20 and this is 0.59 of the total.

The last division where coronavirus was detected in the country was Rajshahi. The first case was detected on 13 April there. Till Wednesday, 25 patients have been confirmed in 7 of the division’s 8 districts. Of the total patients in the country, 0.74 per cent are in this division.

Going up in Barishal and Rangpur

Other than in the island district Bhola, coronavirus has been detected in the other 5 districts of Barishal division. Till 12 April, 7 cases had been confirmed in three districts – Barguna, Jhalkathi and Patuakhali. Till Wednesday the tally has come up to 70, with two more districts – Barishal and Pirojpur – joining the first three. Barishal division’s cases made up 2.70 per cent of the total.

The number of cases has been on an increase in Rangpur division too. Till 12 April there were 15 cases in 5 of the division’s 8 districts. This now stands at 60 cases in all 6 districts of the division, constituting 1.77 per cent of the total.

Various districts are being lockdown to contain the spread of the virus, but it continues to spread. The health minister said that the lockdown isn’t being enforced adequately. He said that to contain the spread of the virus, the lockdown must be strictly enforced and the health rules followed.

In the meantime, IEDCR consultant and epidemiologist Mushtaq Hossain has said that it will not be possible to contain the spread of the virus only by staying at home, following the health rules, and enforcing the lockdown. He told Prothom Alo, the virus has spread all over the country. Rapid response teams must be formed in the districts and upazilas. Testing must be carried out from house to house to confirm cases. The patients must be treated separately. The source of every infection must be detected. All areas must be under regular monitoring. There are justified reasons for people, particularly of the lower income group, to violate the lockdown. They must be consulted and steps taken accordingly.

* This report appeared in the print edition of Prothom Ali and has been rewritten in English by Ayesha Kabir