‘Fears of coronavirus explosion in urban areas’

Bangladesh has crossed the mild stage and is now in the middle stage of coronavirus infections. It can reach at the rapid stage of transmission anytime. The density of population is high in the urban areas, so there is a fear of coronavirus explosion in these areas. Infections may increase all of a sudden in areas where many people live together.

Orphanages, prisons, madrasa dormitories and slum areas are risky. Risky areas have to be isolated quickly. If we have any reservations about using the word ‘lockdown’, we can use ‘health-restricted area’. Considering the increasing number of infections and confirmed cases in the last one week, the health-restricted areas have to be selected and made effective. Implementation will be challenging, but there is no alternative. A system has been set up in East Rajabazar in the capital and such intense programmes have to be adopted.

There is a crisis of physicians and health workers in the cities. Fresh recruitment involves time. In the regions where the infection is very low, physicians and health workers of those regions have to be brought to the cities. Community isolation centres have to be established in each thana in the capital Dhaka.

Infected or suspected coronavirus cases have to be isolated quickly to prevent spread in the urban areas. Information has to be recorded as to how many people test COVID-19 positive, how many people are found affected by pneumonia in lung x-rays and how many people display symptoms.

Red zones have to be made effective for at least three weeks. Earlier, such red zones yielded good results. Infection could be contained in Tolarbag in the capital. Infection has started falling in East Rajabazar. All red zones have to be made effective at a time to get comprehensive results.

Some restrictions are being relaxed purportedly on economic grounds. In this regard, the role of city corporations is very important. At least one third of Dhaka should be brought under the health-restricted areas. The crisis we can now tackle by doubling our work, won’t be resolved by ten times the work if we miss the time.

The experiences of China come up time and again. The political structure of China is different from Bangladesh. Their health facilities are very developed. It would be very difficult for us to do what they have done. But their observation is accurate. Alongside carrying out COVID-19 tests, China is carrying out CT scans and x-rays to check for pneumonia. We can follow this here in Bangladesh. The physician can take steps if pneumonia is found after an x-ray. We have to go for treatment of patients with symptoms. Suspected patients have to be isolated locally. hose, who have no scope to stay home, will go to the isolation centres.

Questions emerge where as to Bangladesh is heading. This virus has no season. The rate of transmission of this virus will not fall naturally. Efforts have to be made to reduce the transmission. The transmission of coronavirus appeared suddenly in Wuhan of China and it spread fast. By dint of effort, it was reduced. New Zealand did the same.

Coronavirus increased slowly in the US and Europe and then at one stage, it increased and exploded. Those countries worked sincerely and tackled it. Still the rate of coronavirus transmission is high in those countries. It is falling and rising. The situation of Africa and South Asia is bad. The situation may worsen further anytime. People’s lack of awareness has come up in the observation of Chinese experts. People should not be blamed for this. It is the responsibility of the government to create awareness among the people. Transmission of coronavirus infection could be tackled by involving people in Kerala of India and Vietnam. This can possible within a short time if the government makes the efforts.

*Mushtaq Hussain is a public health expert.

*This article, originally published in Prothom Alo print edition, has been rewritten in English by Rabiul Islam.