Undoubtedly, there is noted a dip in the rate of infection and deaths from Corona virus in Bangladesh. Only about two months ago, an average of 45 persons were daily dying from COVID-19. The daily average infection rate was 2,000 persons or above. Recently, the daily average death rate has come down to the 20s and the death rate to 1,200 or a few more. The Minister for Health in a recent function expressed his optimism and underlined how in comparison to many other countries of the world, Bangladesh is doing well in respect to COVID-19. But is it still time to be complacent ?
Worldwide the experience says ‘NO.’ In some developed countries where the infection was noted to be in decline, fresh spikes are noted and their governments are going back to tight restrictions. This is called the ‘second wave’. Are we taking similar preparations for a probable second wave in our country ? It seems not.
Recently, preprint journal, MedrXiv, published a couple of reports where they stated COVID-19 has been detected more in developed countries compared to developing ones. Some experts believe the outbreak of novel coronavirus depends on environmental factors such as air temperature, pH – a measurement of the potential activity of hydrogen ions – and relative humidity.
Even though some African countries have reported a large number of cases, majority of the infected countries have a lower temperature than that of ours. There is a speculation that high temperature perturbs the conjugation of COVID-19. Thus, our average high temperature might be an advantage for us.
But winter season is at our doorstep. The expert committee on COVID-19 in Bangladesh underlined in an advisory report to the government of Bangladesh (GOB) sometime ago that the much discussed ‘second wave’ may strike Bangladesh with a fresh resurgence of the infection in the winter months. But are we ready ?
It appears the still controlled cases of Covid-19 cases in Bangladesh has bred a sense of complacence. But the march of COVID-19 should reminds us how helpless we are against nature. If we do not pay attention to prevention issues , we may face a difficult situation only weeks from now.
The temperature is likely to fall in the coming winter months. This would create an ideal environment for the deadly virus to revive and claim more victims. Therefore, it is imperative to gird up our loins and take proactive steps from right now, specially in view of the fact that a relatively carefree environment is noted, as if the corona virus has disappeared in our country.
Looking around in the roads and streets of Dhaka city the scene is plain for everybody to see : hordes of people are seen most uncaringly moving around with no masks and hand gloves, paying scanty or no attention to the need for observing social distancing. In public places, the earlier interest in persuading people to use spray hand sanitizers, is also noted to be waning. Most importantly, hardly activity is seen on the part of policemen and other law and order enforcers to compel people to go for these safety measures if they do not do the same on their own. Therefore, it hardly needs even stating and reminding all of the maxim of ‘ it’s better to be later than never.’
Our administration needs to be sensitized even at this late hour to go all out to ensure that all people are obliged to heed thoroughly the personal safety measures during the pandemic. Any further delay in the matter could invite a much greater tragedy of deaths and no alternative but to reimpose lockdown with crushing effects on the economy.
Providence so far has favoured us by keeping our corona related miseries limited. We must do whatever things can be done on our own to build up on this Providential advantage to be able to ensure the steady phase out of the Corona virus in the months ahead.
