Hospitals to resume COVID-19 testing as infections rise again

After nearly three years, COVID-19 cases are rising once more in the country. The detection of new variants has sparked fresh concerns about the virus that halted the world nearly five years ago. In response, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has decided to restart coronavirus testing in hospitals nationwide.

Professor Halimur Rashid, Line Director of the Infectious Disease Control Division (CDC), announced on Wednesday (June 11) that testing will initially resume at medical colleges and district hospitals equipped with RT-PCR laboratories. Testing services are expected to be operational within the next 10 days.

Initially, testing will begin at major hospitals including Dhaka Medical College, Mugda General Hospital, Chattogram Medical College, and hospitals in the divisional cities of Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal, Sylhet, and Mymensingh.

The first COVID-19 case in the country was reported on March 8, 2020, with the first death occurring 10 days later. The highest daily death toll was recorded in August 2021, with 264 fatalities on two separate days. Since then, the virus has claimed approximately 29,500 lives in the country.

Following a period of low transmission since 2022, the country reported a COVID-related death last Thursday, and infection rates have been rising daily since. New variants of the virus have been identified, including in neighboring countries Thailand, China, and India.

Due to the spread of these variants, health screenings have been intensified at all airports and land and sea ports bordering India. The DGHS has also issued travel advisories, urging people to avoid non-essential travel to countries with rising COVID-19 cases.