PANIC WILL NOT HELP PEOPLE ANY WAY AND IT CAN ONLY INVITE MORE DANGER

COVID-19: The wakeup call

As of yesterday, Bangladesh recorded its first death from COVID-19 and infection of 14 persons. The dead person was vulnerable to this particular disease because he had hypertension, kidney problems as well as heart condition with stent in his heart. Here is the wake-up call: since the coronavirus outbreak began in Wuhan in China at the end of December last year, most fatalities that occurred due to the virus were older people, and all people above 60 must remain very cautious and they must be in home quarantine. The health department as well as the relevant agencies must circulate this through media and other means.

There is all possibility that the disease may cause a major outbreak in Bangladesh, and the government must be ready to treat patients with adequate testing facilities. Several hospitals in the capital have to be kept always ready with enough ICU facilities so that critical patients could be given the necessary care. Chinese experience tells us among the COVID-19 patients, about 5 per cent needed this critical care. Similar emergency measures have to be prepared all across the country. Thought late, educational institutions have been closed down up to March 31 for the better. But the decision for closing down should have been positively for an indefinite period. This is the demand of this emergency. The facts of infection in the country tells us that the disease is still restricted to the people who came back to Bangladesh from other countries and their family members that they have come in contact with. The disease has not apparently entered the community as a whole. That is why the administration must enforce the home quarantine order very strictly so that community remains safe.

Since statistics tells us that the disease has come to Bangladesh through travel; all travels through air, road, rail and sea have to be shut down excepting for emergency provisions. As there is no vaccine or therapeutics for COVID-19, all people should know that prevention holds the key and take necessary precautions such as using facemask, hand sanitisers and hand-washing regularly.

Panic will not help people any way and it can only invite more danger like that happens in the case of a stampede. Indeed the disease did not prove lethal for all, most patients have recovered and/or are recovering; but people with underlying conditions must take extra care. This message must reach all people and the government has to take responsibility of it.                             

 

PANIC WILL NOT HELP PEOPLE ANY WAY AND IT CAN ONLY INVITE MORE DANGER

COVID-19: The wakeup call

As of yesterday, Bangladesh recorded its first death from COVID-19 and infection of 14 persons. The dead person was vulnerable to this particular disease because he had hypertension, kidney problems as well as heart condition with stent in his heart. Here is the wake-up call: since the coronavirus outbreak began in Wuhan in China at the end of December last year, most fatalities that occurred due to the virus were older people, and all people above 60 must remain very cautious and they must be in home quarantine. The health department as well as the relevant agencies must circulate this through media and other means. There is all possibility that the disease may cause a major outbreak in Bangladesh, and the government must be ready to treat patients with adequate testing facilities. Several hospitals in the capital have to be kept always ready with enough ICU facilities so that critical patients could be given the necessary care. Chinese experience tells us among the COVID-19 patients, about 5 per cent needed this critical care. Similar emergency measures have to be prepared all across the country. Thought late, educational institutions have been closed down up to March 31 for the better. But the decision for closing down should have been positively for an indefinite period. This is the demand of this emergency. The facts of infection in the country tells us that the disease is still restricted to the people who came back to Bangladesh from other countries and their family members that they have come in contact with. The disease has not apparently entered the community as a whole. That is why the administration must enforce the home quarantine order very strictly so that community remains safe. Since statistics tells us that the disease has come to Bangladesh through travel; all travels through air, road, rail and sea have to be shut down excepting for emergency provisions. As there is no vaccine or therapeutics for COVID-19, all people should know that prevention holds the key and take necessary precautions such as using facemask, hand sanitisers and hand-washing regularly. Panic will not help people any way and it can only invite more danger like that happens in the case of a stampede. Indeed the disease did not prove lethal for all, most patients have recovered and/or are recovering; but people with underlying conditions must take extra care. This message must reach all people and the government has to take responsibility of it.