ere there is no facility of PCR lab testing, we could go for antibody testing. Antibodies develop in the human body in 15 to 20 days, so it would be hassle free to diagnose what we used for the SARS outbreak in 2003,” Sil added.
Dr. Mohiuddin Ahmed Khan, a member of the country’s National Technical Advisory Committee on COVID-19, said “50,000 would be better, but considering the country’s capacity, we should test at least 20-25,000 on a daily basis.”
“I think about 40% of the total population in the country has already been infected with COVID-19,” added Khan, who is also professor of the Hematology Department at Dhaka Medical College.
The experts said that many people having the coronavirus symptoms avoiding to visit the hospitals for testing.
A study released last week also disclosed that about 9% making around 1.8 million people of the total population in Dhaka is asymptomatic but they couldn’t show the symptoms.
The study, conducted by the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research in collaboration with the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, also said about 6% of slum dwellers in the city are infected with the virus.
Bangladesh remains at bottom ranks in sample testing compared with neighboring countries despite having higher infection numbers, said Dr. Khan.
“We always suggested widening the testing. There is no prevailing situation in the country to decline the testing number, rather we suggested the government introduce alternative testing for the virus, including antigen and antibody testing,” he added.
Eid, floods exacerbate situation
Government officials, however, claim the Muslim Eid-al Adha holiday and floods across the country were also factors.
“The Eid vacation and floods hampered sample collection,” said Prof. Nasima Sultana, a director at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The floods claimed at least 222 lives while more than 50,000 people across the country were infected with waterborne diseases, according to the DGHS .
Meanwhile, over two million people are in need of food assistance, water, sanitation, hygiene and emergency shelter and some 850,000 remain displaced, a figure expected to increase as the rains continue, said a statement of the Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh after providing a total grant of 3.45 million euros (US$4.09 million) for three South Asian countries including Bangladesh.
However, the Flood Forecasting Warning Centre said the flood situation is improving.
Government raising measures
The heath authorities do not test the positive patients after recovery to declare them as COVID-19 negative.
“We have a sufficient number of test kits, skilled manpower and labs. The government is recruiting necessary health technicians as demanded,” said Prof. Sultana, adding “we regularly run awareness campaigns in favor of sample testing so that no one is left without testing.”
The authorities are also working to extend the testing facilities across the country as currently there are 86 sample testing PCR labs, among them 38 are operated by private organizations, said Sultana.
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