Why So Many COVID Infected in Tangail

Coronavirus infections and deaths in Tangail are both alarmingly high. There are lots of patients with coronavirus symptoms in rural areas. But most people are not interested in Covid-19 test.

Coronavirus infection has also spread in the district through passenger and goods laden vehicles coming from the border areas of the country. For this, the health experts are blaming the unresponsiveness of the common people and non-compliance with the health rules.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the first case of Covid-19 was identified in the district on April 8 last year. The patient, who was identified in Mirzapur upazila, used to work in a clinic in Narayanganj. From there he came home infected. Since the end of May last year, the number of infected patients in the district has been increasing. The rate of infection decreases again in September.

Mohiuddin, 20, the first patient in the district, died of coronavirus on April 20 last year. The total number of deaths in the district due to Covid-19 is 150. Of these, 24 have died in the last one week (July 1-7).

In Tangail, from 8 am on Friday (July 9) to 8 am on Saturday (July 10), in the last 24 hours, samples of 438 people were tested and 186 Covid-19 patients were identified. The detection rate is 42.47. The total number of coronavirus infected people in the district stands at 10,051. Of these, 5,015, or about half, have been identified in the last 40 days from June 1 to July 10. 2,344 patients have been identified in 10 days of this July. 2,671 patients have been identified in 30 days of June.

Six people, including a doctor, died of Covid-19 at Tangail General Hospital in the 24 hours till Saturday (July 10) morning. According to the Civil Surgeon's Office, this information has been known today.

The doctor who died was identified as Majed Ali Mia, 58. He was working in Madhupur Upazila Health Complex. According to his family sources, Majed Ali, his wife and daughter were identified as Covid-19 patients on July 1. As condition deteriorated, Majed Ali and his wife were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Tangail General Hospital on July 6. Majed Ali died on Friday afternoon while undergoing treatment there.

2,344 people have been identified in 10 days of this July. 2,671 people have been identified in 30 days of June.

According to Tangail General Hospital, a total of 79 people died in the corona ward of the hospital on July 1-10. At present, 56 patients with coronavirus and 88 patients with symptoms are undergoing treatment at the hospital.

The rate of coronavirus infection in the district has been increasing since the beginning of last June. From June 12, the infection rate has exceeded 30 percent. Between June 25 and 26, the incidence rate fell below 25 percent, but later it increased again. The infection rate has been above 40 percent since July. On July 8, the infection rate was 51.11 percent. A total of 9,321 people have been affected by corona in the district.

Health officials believe that Covid-19 disease has increased in Tangail through passenger and goods laden vehicles coming from the border areas of the country. Vehicles from those areas have to cross about 65 kilometers of road in Tangail district to cross the Bangabandhu Bridge and reach Dhaka. Vehicles on this route pick up and drop off passengers at various petrol pumps. Also stops at hotels and restaurants along the highway. In this way, Tangail Sadar, Kalihati and Mirzapur- these three upazilas have got the coronavis infection, says Tangail Civil Surgeon Abul Fazal Md Sahab Uddin Khan.

Samples were collected at Tangail General Hospital and Upazila Health Complexes to identify the Covid-19 patients. There is also a system of collecting samples from house to house. A 50-bed corona dedicated ward was started in the Trauma Center building of Tangail General Hospital after the corona infection started last year. Now the ward is treating Covid-19 suspected patients. Two wards of the General Hospital have been made corona dedicated wards for patients with corona. There are 56 beds. In addition, the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) has 10 beds. Last Wednesday (July 6), 77 patients were admitted in the 56-bed Corona ward.

Tangail General Hospital Residential Medical Officer (RMO) Shafiqul Islam said most of the patients were coming to the hospital at the last minute. Mortality is higher in patients who come to the hospital after their oxygen levels have dropped far below normal. So far, most of the deaths in the district due to corona infection are over 60 years of age.

The hospital has a central oxygen supply system. There are also adequate oxygen cylinders. There are 17 high flow nasal cannulas. In the last one week, several high flow nasal cannulas have been received from various individuals and organizations. Although the number of patients is more than the number of beds, so far the medical services are being provided as usual. However, doctors say that if the number of patients increases further, the medical services may be disrupted. Tangail Civil Surgeon Abul Fazal Md Sahab Uddin Khan said people are complying with restrictions more than ever. Even then the rate of infection is not decreasing. He thinks that the infection is increasing rapidly due to non-examination of Covid-19 and non-compliance with hygiene rules.