Take COVID-19 very seriously now
It is very worrying that the world is now in an uncharted territory as the number of deaths from novel coronavirus outside China is increasing with new cases of infections emerging from countries hitherto free from the virus. So far, 73 countries have found cases of the disease with the number of infections well over 90,000 and deaths of over 3,000 people. For containing the disease, health professionals worldwide seem to have little or no clue as cases are now being detected without any China link.
With a vaccine against COVID-19 still not in sight, use of masks and proper washing of hands and remaining indoors in places where outbreak has occurred are among the advices of health professionals dealing with the disease which has already become a global pandemic. There is little doubt that Bangladesh is at high risk of infection, as China is not far away from Bangladesh and more cases of the new virus are now being detected in India, a country that almost surrounds Bangladesh.
Despite no case being formally detected, Coronavirus fear has gripped Bangladesh. This is evident from the fact that an increased number of people are now seen using masks on the streets. This awareness is a very positive sign itself and people ought to be made aware of the value of this. Use of mask will not only protect a person from viral infection,with air pollution in all cities in Bangladesh is heavy and Dhaka being the worst in the worldit will also prevent entry of pollutants into his body.
There is a general perception in Bangladesh that if once COVID-19 breaks out here it will take a huge toll, firstly because of the population density and secondly because of the precarious public health system present in Bangladesh. The botched handling of unprecedented dengue outbreak last year only enforces this belief.
From the governments side it is said that it is prepared to fight a possible outbreak. We expect it is true and a situation like the last years dengue is not repeated both in case of corona virus as well as dengue as with the onset of monsoon the risk of its outbreak will be heavy. However, for containing an outbreak of coronavirus, the entry points into Bangladesh, in all three cases of air, land and sea routes must be kept on careful watch so that an infected person can be effectively quarantined, despite the fact that the cases are now identified without any China link.
