With 64,310 new infections detected in only seven days into July, this month is well on its way to becoming the worst month in Bangladesh since Covid-19 broke out in the country 16 months ago.
The number of Covid-19 patients recorded in January this year was 21,629. In April, it exceeded 100,000. The number stood at 112,718 in June.
In July, only seven days have passed, and the health authorities have reported 64,310 new cases as of July 7.
The single-day death toll has also been above 100 on average on these seven days, with the daily tally crossing 200 for the first time ever in the country on Wednesday.
Also Read - Covid-19: Single-day deaths top 200 for the first time ever in Bangladesh
If people continue to flout the lockdown restrictions, the number of patients will increase beyond what the healthcare system can handle, officials at the health directorate have warned.
Prof Dr Nazmul Islam, spokesman of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), expressed this concern during a virtual bulletin on Wednesday.
“The daily death toll has been over 100 during the last one week. The daily death toll was 115 on June 30, 143 on July 1, 132 on July 2, 134 on July 3, 153 on July 4, 164 on July 5, and 163 on July 6. Infections and mortality rates are higher in people over 50. Earlier, the death toll in Dhaka division was higher. But in the last few days, I have seen that the death rate in Rajshahi and Khulna divisions has become much higher than usual,” he said during the bulletin.
“If this upward trend of infections continues, the number of patients in July will surpass that of April and June. If the number of patients increases abnormally due to violation of the lockdown or restrictions, then we will face another challenge," he added.
