Dhaka, Dec 1 Bangladesh on Tuesday reported 2,525 new coronavirus cases, the highest single-day in nearly three months, which increased the country's overall infection tally to 464,932, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Besides the cases, 35 additional people died due to the disease, which increased the death toll to 6,644.
In the same period, 2,539 Covid-19 patients recovered, taking the total number of recoveries to 3,80,711, which is around 82 per cent of all confirmed cases.
Meanwhile, Professor ABM Abdullah, a veteran physician and academician as well as the personal doctor of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, warned that tallies of both confirmed cases and deaths may go up on December.
Abdullah suggested to wear mask, wash hands and to keep 3 feet distance, he told in an exclusive interview.
Despite the increase in the the number of confirmed cases amid the colder weather, Abdullah said that there was no scientific proof that it will increase in winter and decrease in summer.
If you see even in the Middle East, Haj had to be stopped, he told .
But there is a risk of growing in winter, the physician warned.
"The weather is changing. Fever, influenza common cold, flu, typhoid, paratyphoid infects the people of this country all year round. But the biggest fear now is that a common fever may also Covid.
"So, no matter what the complaint is, we are getting more patients. Typically, sore throat, cough, cold, fever, if there is no test and if there is no smell of something - if you have this symptom, you have to test whether it is Covid-19 or not. He/she should stay at isolation so that others do not spread from him. Everybody Must be careful," Abdullah added.
The specialist physician urged citizens to avoid going out unnecessarily and if one still wants then return home quickly.
"First of all, you have to wear a mask as soon as you go out of the house, number one, you have to wash your hands with soap properly. And finally, please keep distance with others minimum 3 feet. These three steps are a must to keep away from Covid-19," he said
Asked what kind of mask to wear, Professor Abdullah told that surgical masks are available to the general public.
It is sufficient. After many layers of this mask, this specialist doctor thinks that only one layer is safe.
However, after N95, KN 95, it is not needed by the public. When doctors are handling patients, they need these masks.
Regarding a Covid vaccine, Abdullah did not give a definite timeline but said when it will be available, testings will begin.
"Arrangements have not been made yet. So safety is still the only way to prevent from the pandemic. Till then, protection is urgent," the Professor added.
He also mentioned that the Covid-19 risk is higher a person has diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, liver or kidney problems, CAPD, asthma and thyroid.
"Senior citizens are at higher risk. They may not go out of the house. Other members of their family should be careful not to infect senior members," Abdullah added.
He lauded the Bangladesh government in its efforts to curb the virus spread.
"There were some difficulty in the beginning in preventing Covid-19, because we were not familiar. Now Bangladesh is very successful. Bangladesh deaths 6,000, in the US it exceeded 2 lakh. They have a lot of scientific research, financial ability. However, they could not control.
"We have been able to handle much more successfully than that and hence our infection rate is low. I think the government and administration doctors of Bangladesh have been very successful," the physician added.
( With inputs from IANS )
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