Is it another Covid wave?

With the number of Covid-19 deaths fluctuating, the rate of infection has gone up for the past couple of weeks.

The number of new infection hovered between a little over 300 and 500 throughout February last. But it started rising from the first day of the current month and crossed the 1000-mark on March 10. Surely, it is a matter of concern.

Is this the second wave? If so, why?

One may cite reasons such as indifference to taking safeguard measures in the wake of a falling rate of infection and number of deaths and ongoing vaccination programme for the resurgence of the Covid-19. Even before the start of the vaccination programme on February 07 last, the vast majority of the people used to roam in the open with no safeguard measures. However, the state of indifference is now more than before.

The number of infected people started declining from the middle part of December and reached the lowest level at 305 on February 06, 2021. Then again, partial vaccination, meaning inoculating with the first of the two-dose vaccination, of some people--- 2.0 per cent of the population--- is unlikely to leave any notable impact on the overall infection rate.

Experts, however, at a discussion organised by the Health Reporters Forum on Monday last predicted that the resurgence of Covid cases could be short-lived.

Fatalities and hospitalisation are likely to be less despite the rise in the rate of infection. Immunologists and health experts have already made such predictions, considering the effect of vaccines. But such predictions might prove true for people, who are already fully vaccinated, and the rest remain vulnerable as before.

 That is the area where the problem lies. One needs to take two doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, the vaccine being used in Bangladesh--- to get vaccinated. If the current rate of vaccination persists, it would take nearly one year to vaccinate 10 per cent of the population.

So, the people who have already got one jab might get the virus. Some of them might show symptoms and may need isolation. Others being asymptomatic could become the spreaders of the disease. That is why the use of the mask needs to be mandatory.

Moreover, one can hardly overlook the issue of the new variants of the coronavirus which is known for its mutating character. If not the South African variant, the UK variant, which is highly transmissible, reportedly has reached the country. However, the health authorities have not said anything about it. Since the presence of the UK variant has already been detected in neighbouring India, most likely it has also entered Bangladesh. Several Indian states are now experiencing the resurgence of Covid infection.

The Covid situation in Bangladesh has not been particularly dreadful, as many feared in the initial days of the pandemic. The number of infections and death in a country with very high population density and rickety health infrastructure has been relatively low. It is also now doing a laudable job in the vaccination programme. But the country can ill-afford yet another big rise in infection for the sake of carrying out the vaccination programme smoothly.

The government should gear up its campaign on safety measures against Covid infection and, if needed, announce a few stern measures, immediately. The economy is steadily returning to its old rhythm and nothing should put it again in the reverse gear.

[email protected]