Covid-19 tests rise, so the cases. Why are deaths rising?

Covid-19 cases are increasing alarmingly in the country for the past 10 days, reaching 5,000 daily cases for the first time on March 29 and 7,000 plus only five days later. And, the number has been increasing every day since then.

Many people believe this surge in positive cases is a result of a rise in testing, as more than 30,000 tests are done per day in the country.

Spiralling hospitalisations, deaths and infection rates manifest that Bangladesh is in a very critical situation to tackle the second wave of coronavirus.

It is now well known that no hospital in Dhaka has any bed vacant for a Covid-19 patient. It is seen on social media how people are struggling to find general beds for their near and dear ones, let alone ICU beds.

Bangladesh, as rest of the world, is under Covid-19 for over a year and its treatments have improved significantly and death rates have come down. But rising hospitalisations have become a big concern for all.

Health experts say hospitalisations and deaths will continue to rise in the days to come as the new infected patients will see critical illness later. The new cases will increase the death toll in the weeks to come, they said.

Professor Dr Nazrul Islam, a member of the national technical advisory committee on Covid-19, said the infection rate is rising as people are reluctant to follow the health guidelines.

“If people continue to ignore safety measures, there will be no option for us but to die,” he told the Business Insider Bangladesh.

Positivity rates

Rising coronavirus cases show that it is spreading alarmingly across the country.

Infection rate that came down to below 3 percent in February from 16-20 percent in the second half of last year has climbed to over 20 percent since the middle of March this year. In the first week of April the positivity rate has gone up to 23 percent or more, much higher than the World Health Organization’s recommendations of 5 percent test positivity or less.

Still, there are many people who do not have any symptoms may have been infected with coronavirus and if they are tested the positivity rate could go up further.

Why are deaths rising?

Bangladesh reported the highest Covid-19 deaths — 64 — on a single day in June last year. Since the fatalities came down and at one stage daily death toll stood at less than 10. But the casualty rate started increasing from the middle of March this year and it continues to rise at a faster pace.

Bangladesh broke the daily coronavirus death toll just three days ago when the country reported 68 deaths. Still, the number is well above 60 a day and experts say deaths may increase in the days to come as many people who are getting infected with the virus may face critical illness later.