Omicron instances have been declining all through Bangladesh because the first week of February following an escalation of the highly-infectious coronavirus variant in January.
Individuals in Bangladesh are largely reluctant to comply with the frequent guidelines for lowering the danger of an infection – reminiscent of sporting a mask or avoiding crowds.
With the federal government nearing the goal of vaccination, some specialists see a lightweight of hope.
Some others suppose Bangladesh must also be on guard as many nations around the globe are but to see a fall in infections. China is witnessing a brand new rise, so is Europe.
In line with the most recent information launched on Thursday, Bangladesh registered 92 new lab-confirmed instances of COVID-19, taking the overall caseload from the illness to 1,951,072.
The federal government recorded no new coronavirus-related dying within the 24-hour rely, leaving the fatality toll unchanged at 29,118. Two months in the past, on Jan 23, the caseload elevated by 10,906 with 10 new deaths.
As many as 12,111 samples had been examined throughout the nation, for a positivity charge of 0.76 p.c, down from document 33.37 p.c on Jan 28.
All through January, the federal government confirmed 226,078 coronavirus instances. The quantity dropped to 132,389 in February. Within the 24 days of March till Thursday, 7,495 instances have been detected.
After a research of samples collected from Feb 21-22, the federal government’s Institute of Epidemiology, Illness Management and Analysis stated all of the instances had been of the omicron variant, which seems to trigger much less extreme infections.
Omicron’s predominance has diminished the possibilities of a brand new variant, stated Dr Be-nazir Ahmed, a former director of the IEDCR’s illness management wing.
With principally delicate signs or asymptomatic instances, Dr Be-nazir believes, omicron has led to herd immunity.
“Until one thing distinctive like a World Warfare III takes place, it could possibly be the start of the top of the pandemic,” he noticed.
Up to now, greater than 126.5 million individuals in Bangladesh have obtained their first dose of coronavirus vaccine. Greater than 92.4 million have taken their second dose and over 6.4 million have been given booster pictures.
ASM Alamgir, chief scientific officer at IEDCR, stated that Bangladesh has vaccinated a big a part of its inhabitants. Everybody will get their second jabs this month. Bangladesh is in a great place because the an infection charge has fallen.
Some nations, together with Bangladesh, have vaccinated greater than 70 p.c of their inhabitants, however most nations have failed to take action. So, international herd immunity is unlikely, he warned.
“About 1,000,000 individuals are nonetheless getting contaminated by the virus on daily basis [globally] and so the an infection might return to Bangladesh. We have to be cautious. There isn’t a room for complacency.”
In line with Professor Nazrul Islam, former vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College, it can’t be stated earlier than the top of March if the pandemic is ending for Bangladesh.
He, nonetheless, believes large-scale infections might not recur as many individuals have been vaccinated in opposition to the coronavirus. “My guess is that the severity of the an infection has decreased due to the vaccination.”
Citing information from the World Well being Group, former IEDCR director Meerjady Sabrina Flora stated that the an infection is alleged to be underneath management if the detection charge stays under 5 p.c for 2 consecutive weeks. And, that’s the case now in Bangladesh.
The COVID beds in hospitals are actually getting used for non-COVID sufferers because the variety of sufferers has come down, she stated.
The Directorate Normal of Well-being Companies has made preparations to make use of them once more in case the an infection spikes once more, stated Sabrina, now a further director basic on the DGHS.
“Total, Bangladesh is in an excellent place. However the finish of the pandemic can’t be introduced simply but since sufferers are nonetheless being discovered in lots of components of the world.”
“The pandemic might finish, however the virus will keep,” she stated. “Possibly the fatality will lower. However we’ve to maintain following well-being guidelines.”
