Current Covid infections not precursor to 4th wave: Expert

Although the country has been experiencing an upward trend in infection of coronavirus for the last few days, it cannot be called as the fourth wave since most of the cases are centered in Dhaka, said an expert.

“Social transmission is needed to enter a wave from another but most of the cases are being detected in Dhaka. So, it cannot be termed as fourth wave,” Prof Muzaherul Huq, former adviser, of South-East Asia region of the World Health Organization (WHO), told the Business Insider Bangladesh.

The health authorities recorded 1,135 new cases of coronavirus and one related death in the last 24 hours until Wednesday morning.

Of the new cases, 1,080 people found positive in Dhaka division, 33 in Chattogram, eight in Khulna, six in Barishal, four in Rajshahi, three in Sylhet and one in Mymensingh division, respectively.

Referring to the data, he said the time has not yet got momentum to describe the situation as the fourth wave of coronavirus. “But we will brace the fourth wave if the spate is not resisted right now.”

Responding to a query, he said only early detection of the case, contract tracing and quarantine of the virus carriers can help prevent the forthcoming fourth wave, if any.

The government should act meticulously to compel people to wear masks and maintain health guidelines everywhere, Muzaherul Huq, also founder of the Public Health Foundation of Bangladesh, said.

When asked why Dhaka is witnessing a high infection rate, he said people are very much reluctant in maintaining health guidelines here while the government is also reluctant in enforcing the health rules.

The number of cases in the country has been increasing again for the last few days after several months and the trend clearly indicates that the country may have a chance to enter into the fourth wave, he added.