The numbers of coronavirus deaths and confirmed cases are continuing to increase every day in the border districts. Hospitals in these districts are grappling with an increased number of coronavirus patients for the past several days. In the meantime, major hospitals there are having a shortage of frontline physicians and nurses. The authorities have imposed Covid restrictions and lockdowns in various areas of the districts to tackle the deteriorating situation. The Delta variant of coronavirus, also known as Indian variant, is largely to blame for this worsening situation. According to the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), the genomic sequence of about 80 per cent of the coronavirus samples tested by researchers has matched the Delta strain. The variant is spreading like wildfire in our border districts with around 50 per cent positivity rate. Apart from cities, it is invading villages.
The so-called lockdown in the border districts is not enough to handle the situation. Curfew or something like this is required to curb the transmission. Otherwise, like our neighbours, we will have nothing to do but watch countless deaths every day. If the transmission of this Delta variant starts in Dhaka city, it will take the situation out of control. The detection rate in border districts ranges from 30 to 60 per cent. Extensive antigen testing is needed in these areas. To understand the overall corona situation, at least 10 per cent of the identified patients need to have their genome sequenced. Adequate oxygen should be provided in the highly infected areas and paramilitary forces should be given the responsibility of strictly enforcing hygiene. Without such measures, the pandemic will be beyond control when patients will start growing at a geometric rate.
Ashikujaman Syed,
Research Assistant, Bioinformatics Research Lab,
Center for Research Innovation and
Development (CRID),
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