[ 12th January 2021 Bangladesh ]  The division wise data shows that 10 deaths took place in Dhaka division, two in Sylhet, one each in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and Mymensingh. Among the total 7,819 deaths, 4,326 deaths occurred in Dhaka division, 1,434 in Chittagong division, 449 in Rajshahi division, 540 in Khulna division, 239 in Barisal division, 298 in Sylhet division, 350 in Rangpur division, and 183 in Mymensingh division.


[ 11th January 2021, Bangladesh ]  According to the DGHS, the vaccine will be stored at district and upazila EPI's WIC and ILR storage. The WIC  ( 10 60 cubic metre )  can store 1,00,000 425,000 vials of vaccine while ILR can store up to 7,100 vials. One cold box can accommodate 900 vials of vaccine while a vaccine carrier has 80 vials of vaccine. Vaccines will be preserved between 2 8°C temperature.


[ 11th January 2021, Bangladesh ]  He said the government had built a framework mechanism to monitor the condition of the vaccinated people. In his presentation, Dr Mushtuq mentioned that the government had to pay $2  ( Tk170 approximately )  for each shot of the vaccine from the Covax program, an initiative co led by The Vaccine Alliance, Gavi, the World Health Organization  ( WHO ) , and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations  ( CEPI ) . The operational cost of the vaccine would be another $2, he said.


[ 18th January 2021, Bangladesh ]  A special flight from India carrying the vaccines would land at Shahjalal International Airport on January 20, it read.The Oxford AstraZeneca vaccines, manufactured by Serum Institute of India, are set to arrive on January 20, said Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, director general  ( DG )  of the Directorate General of Health Services  ( DGHS )  also on Monday. The vaccines will be received and stored at DGHS' facilities, such as EPI  ( Expanded Program on Immunization ) . Additional storage will also be provided for by Unicef, according to Health Minister Zahid Maleque.


[ 16th Jan 2021, Bangladesh ]  The country's infection number reached the 500,000 mark on December 20. The first cases were reported on March 8. The death toll exceeded 7,000 on December 12.


[ 18th January 2021, Bangladesh ]  Dr Khurshid Alam said: “It is very small in volume compared to the volume we are bringing in for the vaccination program. It will not be a problem for us to store it.' When asked whether it will bring any changes to Bangladesh's vaccination schedule, he said that they will wait for further instructions and information from the Health Ministry. He also mentioned that the training programs for the country's vaccinator teams are well underway and is scheduled to conclude by January 27. If the schedule is not followed, it will not be possible to conduct a nationwide vaccination program, he added.


[ 12th January 2021, Bangladesh ]  Bangladesh's Beximco Pharmaceuticals will buy up to three million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID 19 vaccine from Serum Institute of India at about $8 each for sale on the private market, Beximco's chief operating officer told Reuters news agency. The COO, Rabbur Reza, said that was about twice the price of around $4 that Beximco had agreed for separate supplies of five million doses a month, over the first half of the year, for the Bangladeshi government's subsidised mass vaccination programme.


[ 16th January 2021, Bangladesh ]  The lesser number of cases was accompanied with a positivity rate of 4.73%   the lowest since April 5 last year, according to a bulletin released by the Directorate General of Health Services. The overall infection rate in the country is 15.30%.


[ 19th Jan 2021, Bangladesh ]  The vaccines to be received by Bangladesh from the Indian government as a gift will arrive in the city on Wednesday or Thursday, he said. "We are yet to be informed about the schedule of the flight that will bring the vaccines into the country." However, later on Tuesday, sources at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka said the two million doses of Covid 19 vaccines that are India's gift to Bangladesh will arrive in Dhaka on Thursday.


[ 17th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  However, the mortality rate remained almost steady at 1.53 percent for the past few days, including Tuesday, said the handout, adding that 489,254 patients  ( 90.29 pc )  have recovered from the virus infection so far.


[ 20th January 2021,Bangladesh ]  While starting their registration through the “Surakkha' app or website, people will have to provide their names, addresses, NID card numbers, history of comorbidity diseases, Covid 19 test reports  ( if any ) , vaccine consent, among other information. Once that is done, an OTP  ( one time password )  will be provided to a vaccine candidate's mobile number with which he/she will be able to finish the process of registration. This database will be a unified one for both public and private vaccination efforts. Meanwhile, if any vaccine candidate loses his/her vaccine registration card, that individual will be allowed to download it once again from the www.surakkha.gov.bd site, DGHS officials told the media recently.


[ 20th January 2021, Bangladesh ]  Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has said the country's economy has been rebounding from the Covid 19 shocks due to the time befitting steps of the government alongside implementation of the stimulus packages. “In the first half  ( July December )  of the current fiscal year  ( FY21 ) , the major macroeconomic indicators like inward remittance, foreign currency reserves, money supply and inflation are in a very satisfactory position,' he said while expressing his firm resolve that Bangladesh would soon step into a developing country status from the list of LDCs, reports BSS.

Impact->Impact on systems, services and networks


[ 9th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  So far, 3,762,774 tests, including 13,762 new ones, have been carried out since the first cases were reported on March 8. The overall infection rate now stands at 14.31 percent. However, 483,931 patients – 89.89 percent – have recovered so far, the DGHS said.


Refugee:  [ 22nd January 2021, Cox's Bazar ]  Minister of Justice of the Republic of The Gambia Dawda Jallow said member states which are committed to this case should stick to their commitment because this case needs resources for a successful prosecution. Ambassador Rabab Fatima, Bangladesh's permanent representative to the United Nations, said Bangladesh has been a recurring victim of Myanmar's discriminatory policy since Bangladesh has to shelter the Rohingya community who had been forcibly displaced.Wakar Uddin, professor at the Pennsylvania State University and director general of Arakan Rohingya Union, said: “I grew up in Arakan and went to school there. I have never imagined that my land would come to this state.'

Priority interventions->Expressed by humanitarian staff


[ 24th January 2021, Bangladesh ]  “All preparations have been taken to properly store and distribute the total seven million Covid 19 vaccine doses,' the minister added. Maleque told reporters that he hopes Bangladesh will get the second consignment of the ordered vaccines in February. “Permission to import vaccines through non governmental arrangements is yet to be given,' he further said. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to virtually launch Bangladesh's Covid 19 vaccination campaign on Wednesday.The nationwide vaccination program will start after a week of observation and a dry run on 400 500 people in Dhaka.


[ 10th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  Authorities have so far tested 4,197,970 samples, including 17,032 in the past 24 hours.


[ 25th Jan 2021, Bangladesh ]  The death toll from the pandemic rose to 8,041 while the total caseload reached 5,32,401, said the Directorate General of Health Services  ( DGHS )  in a handout.


[ 24th Jan 2021, Bangladesh ]  Third phase The highest number of people in Bangladesh will be vaccinated in the third phase under two stages. As per the plan, a total of 10,36,84,000 people will be given the vaccine in the two stages of the third phase. Of them, 3,45, 61,000 will be inoculated in the first stage and 6,91,23,000 in the second stage.


[ 24th Jan 2021, Bangladesh ]  Officials offload 167 boxes of Indian manufactured vaccines from Air India AI 1232 flight at Dhaka airport on Thursday, January 21, 2021Collected. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the vaccination drive on January 27 at Kurmitola Hospital. A nurse there will receive the first jab The government has worked out a plan for national vaccination against Covid 19 with a target to give two doses of jabs to each of 130 million people to eliminate the prevalence of the deadly virus.


[ 21st Jan 2021, Bangladesh ]  DGHS Director General Prof Dr ABM Khurshid Alam made the announcement on Wednesday The Directorate General Health  ( DGHS )  is thinking of conducting antibody tests to assess the level of effectiveness of the Covid 19 vaccine on Bangladeshi people. DGHS Director General Prof Dr ABM Khurshid Alam made the statement while replying to a question during a press briefing at the Prime Minister's Office  ( PMO )  on Wednesday morning, while giving updates on vaccine related development.


[ 10th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  By Monday, 39,06,500 people received the first dose of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine. The second dose has to be taken between 8 and 12 weeks of the first one.


[ 26th January 2021, Bangladesh ]  DGDA Director General Maj Gen Md Mahbubur Rahman in an unscheduled press briefing said the authorities were yet to issue release certificates for the 2 million vaccine doses gifted by India, as the Central Medical Stores Depot  ( CMSD )  was yet to submit necessary documents. He added that CMSD had been asked to submit the relevant papers as soon as possible.


[ 26th January 2021, Bangladesh ]  According to a fresh survey, only 32% of general people want to get vaccinated for Covid 19 at the very beginning of the countrywide inoculation, which is slated to begin on February 7. Shockingly, 16% do not want to get immunized at all, said researchers on Tuesday.


[ 26th January 2021, Bangladesh ]  In the press conference, the drug administration chief said they could not issue another lot release certificate to the 2 million vaccines as the Central Medical Stores Depot  ( CMSD )  was yet to submit required documents. The CMSD was asked to submit the relevant papers in this regard, he added. The nationwide vaccination program will start after a week of observation and a dry run on 400 500 people in Dhaka.


[ 28th Feb 2021, Bangladesh ]  By Saturday, 2,984,773 people had received the first dose of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine. The second dose has to be taken between 8 and 12 weeks of the first one.


[ 26th Jan 2021, Bangladesh ]  The daily detection rate fell to 3.58 percent while the current overall rate is 14.87 percent. Until this morning, 477,426 patients  ( 89.59 percent )  have recovered.


[ 27th January 2021, Banmgadesh ]  The Education Ministry has decided to revise the shortened syllabus for this year's Secondary School Certificate  ( SSC ) , Higher School Certificate  ( HSC )  and equivalent exams in the face of mounting criticism from examinees and teachers. Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni issued the instructions on Wednesday following a meeting with the NCTB chairman and other officials and teachers involved with the syllabus to decide the next course of action. Students, parents and teachers informed the education minister that the curtailed syllabus rolled out by the National Curriculum and Textbook Board  ( NCTB )  could not be completed within the allotted time of three or four months, said NCTB officials.


[ 31st Jan 2021, Bangladesh ]  On February 4, the “Surokkha app' will be available on the play store. Interested people will be able to register for vaccines online, the DG stated.


[ 24th January 2021, Bangladesh ]  “They do little to cause climate change, but suffer the most from its impacts. Their increasingly common crop failures and livestock deaths put our entire food system at risk. It is imperative that we ensure they remain on their land and sustainably produce nutritious food. If not, then hunger, poverty and migration will become even more widespread in the years to come.'


[ 31st Jan 2021, Bangladesh ]  Meanwhile, the new cases pushed up the national tally to 534,770 while the current overall detection rate is 14.69 percent. Until this morning, 479,297 patients  ( 89.63 percent of the total reported cases )  have recovered.


[ 31st Jan 2021, Bangladesh ]  Meanwhile, the new cases pushed up the national tally to 534,770 while the current overall detection rate is 14.69%. Until this morning, 479,297 patients  ( 89.63% of the total reported cases )  have recovered


[ 29th Jan 2021, Bangladesh ]  Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina launched a Covid 19 vaccination drive at Kurmitola General Hospital in the capital on January 27. Health Minister ZahidMaleque said “70 lakh doses of Covid 19 vaccines are now available in the country. The Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine is the safest one in the world.'


[ 31st January 2021, Bangladesh ]  So far, 6,157 men  ( 75.76% )  and 1,970 women  ( 24.24% )  have died of Covid 19 in the country. The mortality rate against the total number of cases detected so far stands at 1.52%.


[ 30th January 2021, Bangladesh ]  The DGHS said 11,849 samples were collected from suspected Covid 19 patients between Friday and Saturday mornings. As many as 12,084 samples, including those pending, were tested at 204 authorized labs across the country.


[ 31st January 2021, Bangladesh ]  Bangladesh received 7 million doses of the vaccine, 2 million as a gift from India free and five million as part of a contract with the Serum Institute of India. The government plans to inoculate 80 percent of the country's population. According to the national vaccine distribution and preparation plan, the doses will be administered in five stages under three phases.


[ 30th January 2021, Bangladesh ]  The results of last year's Higher Secondary Certificate  ( HSC )  and equivalent examinations have seen a 100% pass rate, as the government published them without holding the tests because of the Covid 19 pandemic. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina officially announced the results on Saturday. She had joined the results handover ceremony, held at the International Mother Language Institute in Dhaka, via videoconference from the Ganabhaban.A total of 1,145,329 students had registered last year and passed the HSC exams from nine general education boards, 88,302 passed Alim from the Madrasa Board, and 133,746 cleared the exams from the Technical Education Board.


[ 27th January 2021, Bangladesh ]  Dhaka Medical College Hospital Director Big Gen Nazmul Huda said around 100 frontline workers, including 20 doctors, 20 nurses and other government staff at the hospital, would get the vaccine on Thursday. During the actual vaccination program, altogether 294 teams will administer vaccines at 45 healthcare centres in Dhaka city. A further 6,431 teams will administer vaccines at 5,268 centres outside the capital, according to the DGHS.


[ 26th January 2021, Bangladesh ]  A trial run of the Covid 19 vaccine program in Bangladesh is set to get underway on Wednesdat, with 25 frontline workers inoculated in the first batch. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the trial virtually at Kurmitola General Hospital around 3:30pm. Three senior staff nurses and three doctors will receive the first six doses, according to hospital sources.


[ 1st February 2021, Bangladesh ]  A new SARS CoV 2 variant, which was first detected in South Africa, has been found in Bangladesh, says a pool of experts. According to them, only one isolated case of the new variant was detected in the country and mutations of the variant take a lot of time to spread.The mass nationwide vaccination campaign, scheduled to start on February 7, will greatly help stop the spread of the mutations, said one of the experts.

Humanitarian conditions->Physical and mental well being


[ 27th Feb, 2021 Bangladesh ]  Also, the country saw five new Covid 19 deaths, taking the national tally to 8,400. The fatality rate stood at 1.54%, the Directorate General of Health Services said.


[ 12th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  Of the five deceased – four men and one women – four were from Dhaka division and one from Chittagong division. All the victims died at different hospitals across the country. So far, 6,252men  ( 75.75% )  and 2,001 women  ( 24.25% )  have died from Covid 19 across the country.


[ 31st January 2021, Bangladesh ]  The priority list also includes 210,000 freedom fighters, 180,457 members of the military and civil defence forces, 25,000 government employees essential in running the state, 25,000 journalists, 89,149 public representatives, 75,000 officials and other employees of city corporations and municipalities, and 37,500 funeral workers will get the vaccine doses in the first month. The others who will get the vaccine in the first month include 200,000 workers of the utilities, sewerage services, fire service and airports, 75,000 of the ports, 60,000 unskilled expatriate workers, 200,000 government staffers engaged in emergency work at districts and Upazilas, and 10,932 from the national sports teams.


[ 25th January 2021, Bangladesh ]  When Beximco approached them to become their sole distributor in Bangladesh, they were reluctant. They themselves were unsure of timely delivery of vaccines. We insisted nonetheless, and they agreed to make us their sole distributor in Bangladesh under one condition. They told us since they needed to expand their production capacity, we must pay them some money in advance.We agreed and became the sole distributor accordingly.Then, we pushed for priority vaccines. Serum was then committed to providing the Indian government and GAVI or COVAX Alliance with the first batch of the vaccines.


[ 31st January 2021, Bangladesh ]  When asked about the adverse impacts of the Covid 19 forced closure, VC Prof Akhtaruzzaman said: "We have to face all these problems with patience. We cannot bring back the lost time but also cannot compromise with the quality of education. "However, we are taking effective measures through proper management to recover the lost academic time."


[ 24th January 2021, Bangladesh ]  Reopening schools will remain a concern since children under 18 will not get vaccinated in the first phase. The Education Ministry has ordered educational institutes to take necessary preparations within February 4 to ensure a safe and suitable environment for students to attend classes in. Schools and colleges must be ready to reopen any time the decision is taken.


[ 24th January 2021, Bangladesh ]  Bangladesh is also buying 150,000 tons of rice from India's state run firm NAFED in a government to government deal while it has issued a series of tender to buy the grain. “We could buy more rice from India in state to state deals,' Nazmanara Khanum said, adding that the Food Ministry was holding talks with several other Indian state agencies. Bangladesh, traditionally the world's third biggest rice producer with around 35 million tons annually, uses almost all the production to feed the people of the country. The country still often requires imports to cope with shortages caused by floods or droughts.


[ 24th January 2021, Bangladesh ]  The vaccination will be done according to the protocol of the World Health Organization  ( WHO ) , Zahid Maleque said. “Most of those who will be immunized first are health workers. Frontline workers will be given priority. Then everyone will get the vaccine. We too will be given the vaccine,' the health minister further said, referring to himself. Moreover, the mobile application, meant to register vaccine candidates online, will be handed over to the Health Services department on Monday by the Information and Communication Technology  ( ICT )  department, said Prof Khurshid Alam, Director General of Directorate General of Health Services  ( DGHS )  after holding a meeting with ICT department's parliamentary committee.


[ 23rd February 2021, Bangladesh ]  More than 60% respondents of an online survey opined that the schools of the country should be reopened in a short time.The Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh conducted the survey titled "Finally schools will reopen: How much we are prepared" from February 17 to 22, 2021. The total number of respondents is 1960 people  576 ( 29.4% )  guardians, 370 teachers  ( 18.9% )  and 1014 others  ( 51.7% ) .Among the guardians, 54.7% have said that they do not feel safe to send their children to schools now, according to the online survey.


[ 23rd February 2021, Bangladesh ]  The Member Secretary of the committee, GM Jahangir Kabir Rana, in a written statement, said due to the Covid 19 pandemic, educational institutions had been closed for 11 months, leading to about one million teachers and staff not being paid their salaries and deprived of other facilities. Unable to cope with the financial pressure, many educational institutions had closed down, he added.


[ 25th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  Rehabilitate trafficking victims to get them back to normal life. Provide training for trafficking victims so that they do not become traffickers to cope with financial losses ● Build social resilience to prevent human trafficking ● Implement laws to bring the traffickers, including masterminds, to book ● Decrease the migration costs


[ 25th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  One 45 year old sex worker, who did not want to be named, had her first jab on Wednesday and said that she was trying to encourage other women in the brothel to follow suit. "I am telling the girls that they won't be able to get the needle  ( vaccine )  even if they have a 100,000 taka  ( $1200 ) , that's how precious and important this is," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.


[ 10th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  Highlighting Bangladesh's success in vaccination, Shahriar Alam said: "Many countries in the world have not yet started vaccination programs at this level. We have already vaccinated over 100,000 people till Tuesday." "We expect to receive a large number of vaccines under the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization  ( GAVI )  in the coming days," he said.


[ 11th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  The daily test positivity rate for Covid 19 in Bangladesh has remained below the 3% mark for seven consecutive days. The latest figures showed an infection rate of 2.65% in the 24 hours till Thursday morning, according to a Directorate General of Health Services  ( DGHS )  press release.


[ 10th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  The test positivity rate has also been below 5% for the last 22 days and under 3% for the last five days. This rate was last shown over 10% on December 19. Between June and August last year, a rate over 20% dominated most of the days.


[ 10th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  The DGHS update said a total of 14,402 samples were collected from suspected Covid 19 patients in the last 24 hours for testing at 206 authorized labs across the country. The overall infection rate in the country stands at 14.22% from 3,792,241 tests that have been conducted so far.


[ 24th Feb 2021, Bangladesh ]  So far, 493,798 patients  ( 90.68% )  including 911 in past 24 hours have recovered from Covid 19.


[ 23rd February 2021, Bangladesh ]  Covid 19 claimed seven more lives and infected another 366 people in Bangladesh in the last 24 hours till Monday morning, showing a slight rise in infection rate than that of Sunday. With the latest figures, the death toll from Covid 19 in the country rose to 8,356 and the caseload to 543,717, according to the Directorate General of Health Services  ( DGHS ) .


[ 14th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  On January 10, the country last recorded a higher single day caseload above the 1,000 mark  ( 1,071 cases ) . Since then, the number remained below the 1,000 mark, until Wednesday when it shot to 1,018. The month of March has been witnessing an upward trend of rising cases day by day. On March 1, 585 new  ( above 500 )  Covid 19 cases were recorded, after almost a month of a lower rate of infections.


[ 10th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni on Wednesday said teachers of all educational institutes would receive Covid 19 vaccination on a priority basis, in a bid to expedite the government's move to reopen schools and colleges soon. The minister was speaking as the chief guest at the Vice Chancellor's Award  ( gold medal )  giving ceremony for students obtaining the best results at the affiliated colleges of the National University, said a press release. “All the educational institutions have been prepared for reopening,' she stated.


[ 10th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  People have been registered through visiting http://www.surokkha.gov.bd website to receive Covid 19 vaccination. Emergency hotline numbers for taking vaccines are 16263, 333 and 10655. Health Ministry sources said people aged 40 years and above will be allowed to receive Covid 19 vaccines.

Information and communication->Communication means and preferences


[ 17th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  The overall infection rate in the country stands at 13.92% from 3,893,654 tests that have been conducted so far. The total number of identified cases in the country stands at 541,877.


[ 13th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  Some 736,680 have been immunized against Covid 19 so far in the country. Of them, 513,621 were men and 223,059 were women. Meanwhile, the number of adverse events was 31 on Saturday, compared to 86 on Thursday. A total of 394 adverse events have been recorded since the nationwide vaccination drive started on February 7.


[ 8th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  The ministry said no more than five people from an organization and no more than two visitors at a time would be allowed to pay homage to the language martyrs on the given day. People coming to pay their respects will not be allowed to enter the premises without masks and hand washing facilities will be made available at the entry points, the notice said.


[ 10th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  People with controlled chronic diseases, taking homeopathic and or traditional medicine can now receive the Covid 19 vaccine, an official release said on Wednesday. Apart from controlled chronic diseases, people with controlled respiratory disease also would be eligible for receiving coronavirus inoculations, it said adding along with a priority group of people, different professionals including teachers at primary, secondary and tertiary levels, cleaners and transport workers will also be able to get the vaccine, the statement read.


[ 27th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  The overall positivity percentage on Saturday was, however, 13.54% with a total of 4,030,616 tests being conducted across the country till now.


[ 13th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  The vaccination drive was conducted at 50 hospitals in Dhaka city and 1,005 hospitals outside the capital on Saturday, the DGHS said, adding that the immunization program will begin at 8 am and will continue till 2:30 pm every day. But some hospitals will continue the vaccination program throughout the day, the health official said.


[ 14th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  Only 328,000 people registered for the Covid 19 vaccine from the opening of registration on January 27 till the start of the campaign on February 7. However, an average of 200,000 people have registered for the vaccine each day since the start of the campaign. The registration rate had increased significantly because people are now convinced that there are no significant side effects, experts said.


[ 11th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  Meanwhile, a total of 204,540 people were administered the Covid 19 vaccine on Thursday, the fifth day of the countrywide vaccination drive. Among them, 140,152 were men and 64,388 were women. People aged 40 years and above can now sign up to receive the Covid 19 vaccine, Health Ministry sources said.


[ 11th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  The country recorded nine fresh deaths from Covid 19, bringing the overall death toll to 8,248. A total of 418 people tested positive for the infectious disease during the 24 hour time frame, taking the total number of cases in Bangladesh to 539,571. The overall test positivity rate now stands at 14.17%.


[ 11th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  Health Minister Zahid Maleque said the decision was taken to ensure that the ongoing vaccination campaign ran smoothly as huge numbers of people had started gathering at the vaccination centres to complete registration. “We saw that the number of on the spot registrations was increasing recently. As a result, those who registered online were facing problems due to the chaos at the centres,' he said. He made the announcement while speaking at a program in the capital on Thursday.


[ 10th February 20221, Bangladesh ]  In Bangladesh, Facebook has worked closely with the Directorate General of Health Services  ( DGHS )  and the ICT Division to provide health awareness information and connect to government resources, such as corona.gov.bd. The Covid 19 Information Center is available in Bangla to ensure people can easily access and avail accurate information shared by the World Health Organization and health experts.


[ 7th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  Awami League lawmaker Mahbubul Alam Hanif inaugurates the Covid 19 vaccination drive at Kushtia General Hospital on Sunday, February 7, 2021 |CollectedMeanwhile, around 55,000 people registered in the last 24 hours; that sums it up to 100,000 for the last two days. The DGHS said around 418,000 people completed online registration till 7pm yesterday.


[ 7th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  Health Minister Zahid Maleque once again announced that on site registration at the vaccination centre would be allowed and people can get the vaccine immediately. This time he added one more terminology, calling it, “manual registration.' He, however, could not explain what it meant. Asked about the matter, Additional DG prof Sabrina Flora said they are yet to come to any conclusion regarding “on spot registration' and were still working on methods on how to approach the matter.


[ 24th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  A total of 16,435 samples were collected from suspected Covid 19 patients in the past 24 hours for testing at 214 authorized labs across the country. The overall infection rate in the country stands at 13.66% from 3,987,676 tests that have been conducted, so far.


[ 28th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  People aged 40 years and above can register to receive Covid 19 vaccines, health ministry sources said.


[ 23rd February 2021, Bangladesh ]  Covid 19 spared no industry in 2020, and the Bangladesh RMG industry was no different. However, with about 85% of the country's export earnings coming from the RMG industry, and with cancellations and delays worth billions of dollars due to Covid 19 in 2020, it was a particularly difficult time, not just for the industry but, as a result, for the entirety of the Bangladesh economy.


[ 1st February 2021, Bangladesh ]  Besides, 369 new cases were detected during the same period, increasing the national tally to 535,139.


[ 20th Feb 2021, Bangladesh ]  And the daily infection rate rose to 3.14%, which was 2.85% on Friday and 2.68% on Thursday.


[ 8th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  Nur Islam, 45, from Assasuni upazila, in Satkhira district, says his business is dead. “I have been making a living by shrimp farming for several years. There are small problems at different times. Losses occur when shrimp farms are infected with a virus. But if one year goes bad, the next year it makes up for the loss again,' he says. “But this time I was completely finished.'


[ 23rd February 2021, Bangladesh ]  With the latest infections, the number of all confirmed cases jumped to 543,717, according to the daily virus update by the Directorate General of Health Services  ( DGHS ) , released on Monday afternoon.


[ 10th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  Meanwhile, 388 fresh cases were detected, pushing up the national tally to 539,153. The daily detection rate fell to 2.59 percent while the current overall rate is 14.22 percent. So far, 3,792,241 samples, including 14,999 in the past 24 hours, have been tested. So far, 485,290 patients  ( 90.01 percent )  have recovered.


[ 18th February, Bangladesh ]  Of the 15 deaths – 12 males and three females   11 were from Dhaka, two from Chittagong, and one each from Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions. All the victims died at hospitals.


[ 18th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  According to Bangladesh's demographic data, 40% of the population is below the age of 18, thus excluding them from the vaccination program. Now, assuming that 10% of the population cannot be vaccinated due to a variety of reasons  ( pregnant women, women nursing babies, very sick, and elderly ) , only 50% of the population can be vaccinated.


[ 12th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  Bangladesh reported five new Covid 19 deaths until early Friday, including four in Dhaka, taking the national tally to 8,253. The fatality rate stood at 1.53%, the Directorate General of Health Services  ( DGHS )  said. However, the daily infection rate fell to 2.82% with 404 new cases in the last 24 hours, pushing the caseload to 539,975.


[ 15th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  Women and girls are the main targets of such violence. Despite efforts of governmental and non governmental organizations, detecting violence and providing life saving services is not always possible. Women and girls who experience violence in the household are taught to endure it, and despite campaigns and awareness raising efforts, seeking support from specialized service providers seems not to be an option for many of them. Women and girls living in rural areas are among those facing the largest difficulties in accessing support. Structural barriers exist in families, communities, and in institutions, in urban and rural areas. Deaths resulting from SGBV are tragically common.


[ 14th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  Hasina said the government has already procured 3 crore doses of vaccine and paid in advance for that. "We've made the advance payment when the research was going on and the World Health Organisation  ( WHO )  did not give approval, but I made the advance so that we can get it early," she said.


[ 17th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  After the first shot, three months is the time limit for receiving the second one, Minister Maleque said, noting that the vaccine is more effective when you wait longer to receive the second jab. He said text messages are sent to people according to a particular centre's capacity to inoculate within a day. “There's nothing to be worried about as the country has no shortage of doses," he said


[ 28th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  A recent study by a rights body found that 30% children in Bangladesh were abused online during the Covid 19 pandemic. On Sunday, Ain o Salish Kendra  ( ASK )  revealed the findings of its survey, conducted in 2020, during a media call at the National Press Club.


[ 4th Feb 2021, Bangladesh ]  The daily detection rate fell to 3.18 percent while the current overall rate is 14.48 percent. So far, 3,708,907 samples have been tested, including 15,273 in the past 24 hours.


[ 11th Feb 2021, Bangladesh ]  Physicians and nurses have been trained to carry out the vaccination drive. So far, top government officials, Cabinet members, judges, policemen, along with general people, have received the vaccine.


[ 5th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  So far, 3,724,473 tests, including 15,566 new ones, have been carried out since the first cases were reported on March 8. The overall infection rate stood at 14.43%. However, 482,424 patients – 89.76% – have recovered so far, the DGHS said.


[ 15th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  The mortality rate stood at 1.53 percent on Sunday the handout said adding that 487,229 patients  ( 90.13 pc )  have so far recovered from the virus infection so far. As of now, 3,848,116 samples have been tested, including 12,900 in the past 24 hours.


[ 28th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  As per the research findings, the malnourished children had two meals a day instead of three. Also, almost 60% of their families also took two meals a day for at least four months.


[ 10th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  Health Minister Zahid Maleque said: "The way people are going to Cox's Bazar, Sylhet and the way social events are going on without people wearing masks or maintaining social distancing, the infection rate was bound to rise. Recently, the number of patients in the hospital has increased too.'


[ 10th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  To date, 4,197,970 tests have been conducted in the country, leading to an overall test positivity rate of 13.18%.


[ 21st February 2021, Bangladesh ]  The country also logged more than 543,000 coronavirus cases with 327 people having tested positive over the same period. With this development, the number of all confirmed cases so far jumped to 543,351.


[ 13th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  On Wednesday, the rate was 5.98% and it went down slightly to 5.82% on Thursday. But, the rate bounced back to 6.62% on Friday. Of the deceased of the last 24 hours, nine were men and three were women   all from Dhaka Division. Among the total deceased since March last year, 6,451 were men and 2,076 were women.


[ 13th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  Meanwhile, 16,206 samples, including the pending ones, were tested in 219 labs across the country in the past 24 hours. Also, 1,138 patients were declared free of Covid 19 at the same time, raising the total to 510,310 with a 91.74% recovery rate. Currently, 9,648 people are in isolation and 32,319 are quarantined around the country, according to DGHS.


[ 23rd February 2021, Bangladesh ]  Meanwhile, the country registered 18 more deaths from Covid 19 in the past 24 hours, taking the number of total fatalities to 8,374. Of the 18 deceased – 10 men and eight women – 12 were from Dhaka division, two each from Chittagong and Rajshahi, and one each from Khulna and Rangpur divisions. Of the victims, 16 died at different hospitals across the country while 2 died at home.


[ 23rd February 2021, Bangladesh ]  The daily test positivity in the country has been in single digits since December 19. A total of 366 new infections were reported from 11,103 samples tested in the last 24 hours.


[ 23rd February 2021, Bangladesh ]  Bangladesh was supposed to receive five million vaccine doses each month for six consecutive months but the number has now decreased in the second month. Bangladesh is receiving the second consignment in reduced volume as the CEO of Serum Institute said their supply for foreign governments may be delayed as it had been directed to prioritize India's requirements. However, Indian health authorities said that they have not given any such directions to the Serum Institute and other countries would get the vaccine eventually but in smaller consignments.


[ 21st February 2021, Bangladesh ]  Bangladesh is all set to receive the second batch of Oxford University AstraZeneca Covid 19 vaccine doses from the Serum Institute of India  ( SII )  on Monday. Beximco Pharmaceuticals Managing Director Nazmul Hasan Papon confirmed the matter on Sunday, reports Bangla Tribune. Earlier on February 15, Papon, also the president of Bangladesh Cricket Board  ( BCB ) , had said: “Bangladesh will get around 0.3 million more doses of Oxford AstraZeneca Covid 19 vaccine in the second consignment. However, the quantity may vary depending on need, as we have six million vaccine jabs in stock right now. So there will be no crisis.' He made the remarks after being administered with the Covid 19 vaccine at Dhaka's Kurmitola General Hospital.


[ 20th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  The total number of people administered with the Covid 19 vaccine in Bangladesh has crossed the two million mark, with 234,564 people vaccinated at centres across the country on Saturday. The number of people vaccinated in the country stood at 2,082,877, including 1,378,935 men and 703,942 women, on Saturday afternoon, according to a DGHS press release.


[ 20th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  The DGHS said a total of 11,022 samples were collected from suspected Covid 19 patients in the last 24 hours for testing at 214 authorized labs across the country. The overall infection rate in the country now stands at 13.80% from 3,933,637 tests conducted so far.


[ 28th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  The overall positivity percentage till Sunday was, however, 13.51% with a total of 4,044,027 tests being conducted across the country till now. As many as 13,411 samples, including the pending ones, were tested in the 215 authorized labs   government and private   across the country.


[ 20th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  Currently, the Covid 19 vaccine is administered at medical college hospitals, specialized hospitals and district and upazila level government hospitals.


[ 28th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  The vaccination drive is being conducted at 50 hospitals in Dhaka city and 1,005 hospitals outside the capital, the DGHS said, adding the immunization program will begin at 8am and will continue until 2.30 pm every day.


[ 28th February 2021, Bangladesh ]  The survey also found that 88% of the respondents, who were abused online, had been harassed mostly by strangers. Among them, only 41% reported it to their parents and family members. A meager 6% of the respondents initiated legal actions against offenders.


[ 1st March 2021, Bangladesh ]  Eight more Covid 19 related deaths and 585 new cases were reported in Bangladesh in the last 24 hours till Monday morning, showing a substantial rise in its daily infection rate.


[ 23rd February 2021, Bangladesh ]  About 2,400 Rohingya attempted the sea crossing last year, and 200 died, according to the UN refugee agency.


[ 19th Feb 2021, Bangladesh ]  The daily infection rate jumped to 2.85% on Friday which was 2.68% on Thursday, according to data released by the Directorate General of Health Services  ( DGHS ) .


[ 21st Feb 2021, Bangladesh ]  Bangladesh saw a rise in Covid 19 related deaths and a decline in new cases in the last 24 hours until Sunday morning. Seven coronavirus related deaths and 327 new cases were reported. On Saturday, five deaths and 350 fresh cases were confirmed.


[ 2nd March 2021, Bangladesh ]  Authorities have so far tested 40,72,922 samples, including 15,325 in the past 24 hours.


[ 24th Feb 2021, Bangladesh ]  Bangladesh saw a fall in Covid 19 related deaths and a rise in new cases in the last 24 hours till Wednesday morning. Five Coronavirus related deaths and 428 new cases were reported during the period while 18 deaths and 399 fresh cases confirmed on Tuesday.


[ 14th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  Meanwhile, more than 5.6 million people registered around the country to get the first dose of the Covid 19 vaccine till Sunday afternoon, said the health directorate. Until Saturday, over 4.3 million people have been vaccinated nationwide since January 27.


[ 11th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  But 507,920 patients  ( 91.66 percent of the total cases )  have recovered.


[ 11th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  The month of March is seeing an upward trend of rising cases day by day. On March 1, 585 new Covid 19 cases were recorded, after almost a month of a lower rate of infections. Meanwhile, the death toll climbed to 8,502 after six fatalities were recorded in the 24 hour period.


[ 11th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  As many as 18,058 samples, including pending ones, were tested in the 219 authorized labs    government and private    across the country. The latest figures show an infection rate of 5.82%.


[ 2nd March 2021, Bangladesh ]  By Monday, 3,226,825 people had received the first dose of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine. The second dose has to be taken between 8 and 12 weeks of the first one.


[ 1st March 2021, Bangladesh ]  The country recorded 385 more Covid 19 infections from 13,411 samples tested until early Sunday, resulting in a daily test positivity rate of 2.87%.


[ 7th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  Bangladesh's coronavirus caseload rose to 550,330 on Sunday after the health authorities confirmed 606 new cases in the last 24 hours.


[ 7th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  The Directorate General of Health Services  ( DGHS )  said 1,037 people recovered from the virus infections during this period.


[ 5th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  On Friday, it stood at 4.63%, up from 3.87% on Thursday, while it was 3.74% on Wednesday, 3.36% on Tuesday, and 4.31% on Monday. The recent increase in infection rate clearly shows an upward trend as before Monday it went above the 4% mark on January 25.


[ 5th March 2021, Cox's Bazar ]  IOM and PULSE Bangladesh provide a wide range of services there, including individual case management. Women and girls can also access counseling and psychosocial support, recreational activities, information on health, childcare guidance, legal rights, as well as core humanitarian items.


[ 8th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  Fourteen Covid 19 related deaths reported during this period pushed up the local fatalities to 8,476. At the same time, 1,117 people recovered from the virus infections, according to the Directorate General of Health Services  ( DGHS ) . So far, 504,120 patients  ( 91.46 percent )  have recovered.


[ 11th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  Bangladesh on Thursday completed administering the Covid 19 vaccine to over 4.2 million people. From February 7 till now, a total 4,218,127 healthcare professionals, frontline fighters, and people aged above 40 years old have been immunized against the deadly virus. They include 2,688,462 men and 1,529,665. A total 881 people have experienced adverse effects.


[ 10th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  Meanwhile, the daily infection rate jumped to 5.13 percent from 4.98 percent on Monday. But the mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.54 percent for the past few weeks, the DGHS said.


[ 10th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  The daily infection rate jumped to 5.98 percent from 5.13 percent on Tuesday. But the mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.54 percent for the past few weeks, the DGHS said in a handout.


[ 10th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  Besides, it said, 1,264 people recovered from the virus infections during the period. So far, 506,613 patients  ( 91.59 percent )  have recovered.


[ 11th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  Meanwhile, a total 180,265 people have been inoculated in Mymensingh division, 878,560 in Chittagong, 458,192 in Rajshahi, 388,942 in Rangpur, 553,212 in Khulna, 190,256 in Barisal, and 234,513 in Sylhet division.


[ 13th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  Dr Lenin said all, including those receiving the vaccine, must wear masks to protect themselves from the virus. “The government should carry out a campaign to encourage people to wear masks and maintain the health safety rules.' He also said the government should now conduct mobile courts immediately to force people to wear masks. Besides, the expert said, the government should increase its monitoring so that all the public and private offices strictly follow the physical distancing and the health safety rules. He also suggested the government intensify its campaign of “No mask no service.'


[ 13th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  With the latest figures, the Covid 19 fatalities climbed to 8,515 and the total infections to 555,222, the DGHS said. However, 1,252 people recovered from Covid 19 during the period.


[ 14th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  The daily percentage of people testing positive for the virus surged past 5% a few days back after a month of downtrend. The infection rate stood at 6.26% on Saturday after a slight fall from 6.62% on Friday.


[ 14th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  Twelve more Covid 19 related deaths were reported during the period, putting the mortality rate at 1.53%, according to the Directorate General of Health Services  ( DGHS ) .


[ 15th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  Besides, 1,385 people recovered from the virus infections during the period. So far, 511,695 patients  ( 91.80 percent )  have recovered, according to the DGHS.


[ 5th March 2021, Cox's Bazar ]  COVID 19 related mobility restrictions, coupled with a lack of income generating opportunities, have significantly affected the most vulnerable, particularly single female headed households, and the pandemic has impacted their safe access to GBV and Sexual and Reproductive Health  ( SRH )  services.


[ 23rd April 2021, Bangladesh ]  Health authorities have so far confirmed 739,703 cases. Among them, 647,674 people   87.56 percent of all patients – have recovered.


[ 11th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  The daily infection rate jumped to 5.98% from 5.13% on Tuesday. But the mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.54% over the past few weeks, the DGHS said in a handout. With the latest figure, the Covid 19 fatalities climbed to 8496 and total infections to 553,105, the handout added.


[ 18th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  Initially, this meant using radio, videos and posters in Rohingya, Burmese and Bengali languages to share information about how people could protect themselves from the virus. The outreach campaign also included hundreds of volunteer community health workers, many of them refugees, carrying out door to door visits to share information, and support local health care facilities to identify and treat COVID 19 cases.


[ 18th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  Following discussions between UNHCR, health sector partners and national health authorities, the government has now confirmed that Rohingya refugees will be included in the national vaccination roll out using the same criteria for prioritizing the most vulnerable as for Bangladeshi nationals. This includes older age groups, frontline health workers, volunteers, and teachers, among others. Refugees are expected to start receiving vaccinations in the coming weeks.


[ 7th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  Bangladesh reported its first death on March 18 last year. Since then, 8,462 people have died after 11 fatalities were recorded in the 24 hours to 8am on Sunday. Less than a year after the pandemic unfolded in the country, Bangladesh kicked off a nationwide vaccination campaign in February 7 this year. As of Sunday, over 3.68 million people have been inoculated.


[ 25th April 2021, Bangladesh ]  Bangladesh has so far tested 5,345,501 samples including 21,922 in the last 24 hours.


BDRCS continues sharing flood and concurrent COVID 19 awareness messages through RCY volunteers and its social media platform.


In response to the looming threat posed by COVID 19, the government of Bangladesh imposed a total lockdown on the Cox's Bazar district  ( which, in addition to the Rohingya camps, is home to 2.3 million people ) .


[ October 2020, Bangladesh ]  Communication on the risks of COVID 19 disseminated across all mechanisms for host communities needs to include information on available support from the government and humanitarian organizations, as well as how to access it.


[ 2 September 2021, Cox's Bazar ] Health: All health facilities in the camps are fully operational.


▪ Activate Health Emergency Operations Centre and Control Room of DGHS for cyclone / flood /landslide response. ▪ Deploy Mobile Medical Team/Rapid Response Team with emergency drugs and equipment to the affected areas ▪ Distribute emergency drugs, PPE, medical and lab supplies in affected areas for replenishment ▪ Establish Temporary/Makeshift hospital


▪ Distribution of reproductive health  ( RH )  kits and menstrual health management  ( MHM )  kits to implementing partners, female health workers, and to those who are quarantined for prevention, screening, and treatment in affected areas, with particular attention on areas with high rates of child marriage and adolescent pregnancies. ▪ Provide PPE to midwives and HCW to mitigate the risk of spreading COVID 19 and to protect health care staff and patients


▪ Support national government and local authority in strengthening SRH services, including adolescent/youth friendly health services, in disaster affected locations and prioritize the health needs of women and girls of reproductive age, pregnant women and lactating mothers, adolescents and youth, as well as SRH and GBV cross cutting areas such as clinical management of rape  ( CMR ) . ▪ Support the Ministry of Health to deliver innovative, online, and mobile SRH, including adole scent and youth SRH, and family planning education and counselling with particular attention on areas with high rates of child marriage and adolescent pregnancies


34 SMSD staff received orientation training for the Health Sector's Rapid Response and Investigation Team initiative. The SMSD Sector finalised a referral system for home based care workers in collaboration with other Sectors and ISCG.

Capacities & response->International response


Emergency construction/rehabilitation of sanitation facilities  ( latrine & bathing chamber )   ( All beneficiaries have access to adequate sanitation facilities and need separate bathing place f or adolescent girls and women thereby ensuring their security )  ▪ Emergency construction/rehabilitation of water facilities  ( raised platforms, operation & maintenance and established water treatment plants )

Humanitarian conditions
Priority interventions


Capacity building of Women affairs officers and social welfare officers so that they can influence and contribute to inclusive local level COVID response and recovery plan ▪ Develop prevention messages on COVID 19 from the perspective of women and girls, including addressing prevetion of GBV, hate speech and advocating for shared care burdens ▪ Awareness building on psychosocial needs for the special groups.


UNHCR and its partners are exercising care in conducting activities in the camps with as low a footprint as possible, as the risk posed by the virus to the refugee community and humanitarian staff remains high.


[ October 2020, Bangladesh ]  The biggest obstacle for Rohingya women in accessing health facilities was overcrowding. Other barriers mentioned included insufficient income to pay for health care, distance of travel involved and cost of transport.


Furthermore, the funding supports the continuation of ensuring sustainability of gender transformative, accessible, and quality sexual and reproductive health services that midwives are providing for women in targeted districts of Bangladesh, thereby reducing maternal mortality and morbidity among communities most left behind.


Since its inception, the COMs have conducted over 3,800 training sessions that reached 8,700 refugees from more than 4,800 households. Over 6,000 masks were made by the refugee community for family members and other members of the community

Capacities & response->People reached/response gaps


19 incidents of lightning took place in 12 districts i.e. Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Dinajpur, Tangail, Moulvibazar, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Feni, Thakurgaon, Chuadanga and Panchagarh in which 24 persons killed and six persons injured. In Lalmonirhat, on July 02, 2020, four persons killed and two persons injured in two incidents in a single day

Casualties->Dead
Shock/event->Type and characteristics
Casualties->Injured


Two of UNHCR's partners supporting livelihood initiatives have started cash distributions to the host community as part of the COVID 19 response. Some 3,600 local Bangladeshi households out of a target of 6,000, received 2,500 Bangladesh Taka  ( about US$ 30 )  each.


[ 30th March 2021, Bangladesh ]  Among the deceased, 37 people died in Dhaka division, three in Chattogram, two in Rajshahi, two in Khulna and one in Sylhet. So far, 5,118 coronavirus patients died in Dhaka division, 1,631 in Chattogram, 501 in Rajshahi, 579 in Khulna, 273 in Barishal, 318 in Sylhet, 373 in Rangpur and 201 in Mymensingh.


Further, the lack of privacy at home, and the risks of using shared, unsafe, and unclean toilets and bathing facilities could act as a barrier for the women to change their menstrual materials as frequently as required, and to wash and store them in a hygienic manner.


[ 7th December 2020, Bangladesh ]  The health authorities said 2,663 people recovered from the disease over the preceding 24 hours. So far, 398,623 patients – 83.09% – have made full recovery across the country. As many as 14,369 samples, including the pending ones, were tested in the 118 authorized labs – government and private – across the country over the last 24 hours.


BDRCS continues sharing flood and concurrent COVID 19 awareness messages through RCY volunteers and its social media platforms.


Since mid April, immunization services in the refugee camps were withheld due to the lockdown following the first COVID 19 positive cases among the host community. In response, the Government, WHO and health sector partners have developed a health facility based transitional strategy to resume the routine immunization services with fixed site sessions open for 6 days a week and the health facility based sessions  ( previously known as outreach sessions )  now running 4 days a week. Currently, 55 health facilities are working as fixed immunization sites and another 60 as outreach sites to ensure routine immunization sessions in the camps.


During this reporting period, a total of 2,424 people were reached with psychosocial support – they comprised 753 males, 677 females and 994 children.


The PSS interventions of BDRCS have been supported by IFRC, the Danish Red Cross, Japanese Red Cross Society and the Turkish Red Crescent. General psychosocial support activities and psychological first aid  ( PFA )  are mainly provided in camps 13, 14 and 17. The team has also been operating a hotline to provide PSS remotely over the phone to staff working in stressful conditions.


Currently, close to 170 refugees are under quarantine at four quarantine facilities managed by UNHCR in Ukhiya and Teknaf. These facilities offer space for refugees to stay when they have had close contact with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID 19.


A total of 4054 COVID 19 positive cases have been reported in Cox's Bazar district, of which 101 in the Rohingya camps.


In July 2020, six devastating hazards took place across Bangladesh i.e. Covid 19 pandemic, monsoon flood, lightning, fire, boat capsize and bridge collapse.


A video on the construction of the new BDRCS Integrated Isolation and Treatment Centres  ( IITCs )  which will help treat and contain the spread of COVID 19 in Cox's Bazar


An additional PCR machine has been installed at the IEDCR laboratory in Cox's Bazar to further expand its testing capacity. Now with 3 PCR machines more tests can be conducted for the FDMN/Rohingya refugees. In week 30, the number of tests per one million population was 434 compared to 357 in the previous week. However, the number of tests in the host community in the district is decreasing  ( number of tests/ one million population in week 30 was 290, while in week 29 it was 379 ) .


WHO continues to provide epidemiological data to support operational decision making for the COVID 19 response in Cox's Bazar. As of 30 August 2020, a total of 3965 individuals from the host community in Cox's Bazar district have tested positive for COVID 19: 419 in Chokoria, 318 in Teknaf, 237 in Maheshkhali, 2025 in Sadar, 420 in Ukhiya, 284 in Ramu, 165 in Pekua and 97 in Kutubdia.


In July, 84 personnel working at the quarantine sites in SARI ITCs in three camps were sensitized on protection concepts for safe referrals for children, GBV survivors, and victims of trafficking, psychological first aid  ( PFA ) , and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse  ( PSEA ) , of a target of 300 personnel.


So far, forty two health care workers from 27 health facilities completed a 4 days training on Water and Sanitation in Health care facilities Improvement Tool  ( WASH FIT ) . This training included field visits and assessment with participants drawing action plans for improvements in IPC, WASH and health care waste management at their respective facilities delivering routine essential health services.


FOOD SECURITY  ( FSS ) : The Livelihoods Working Group is collaborating with CwC Working Group, Health Sector and Risk Communications and Community Engagement Technical Working Group to raise awareness on the importance of wearing masks by sharing key messages to refugees and host communities. As of 23 July, approximately 321,500 individuals in the camps and 123,000 individuals in the host community were reached with a total of 889,000 reusable cloth masks  ( two masks per person )


WHO donated 5000 pieces of surgical masks to the Civil Surgeon office and distributed six medical items including medicines, PPE, RDT, Lab items, medical equipment and WASH items to nine different partners. WHO supported the UN Clinic in Cox's Bazar with COVID 19 kits


In the host community, 88 teachers disseminated educational instructions and COVID 19 awareness messages to 1,548 parents and learners. 72 volunteers distributed COVID 19 awareness leaflets to 1,118 parents, learners and community members.


Bathing cubicles, hand washing points, as well as water collection points and tube well areas have been continuously disinfected with chlorine solution as part of ongoing work and as a critical activity during COVID 19 response. A further 21,500 public spaces and buildings that are used by government, humanitarian staff and refugees were disinfected with chlorine solution.


Door to door health services by the community health workers which includes the reproductive health services,and context based health promotion may also be deprioritized or unavailable during the lockdown.


474 households transitioned to e voucher assistance from in kind food distribution, increasing the total number of evoucher beneficiaries to 163,090 households, or 87 per cent of all refugee households


9 households received one off general food distribution, 63 households received high energy biscuits, and 48 cooked meals were provided through rapid food distribution in response to emergency relocations by the Protection Sector


[ 31 August, Cox's bazar ]  As of 31 August, 101 confirmed cases of COVID 19 had been identified in the Rohingya refugee camps, with 6 deaths. 3,965 COVID 19 positive cases and 63 deaths were reported in Cox's Bazar District, according to the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research  ( IEDCR ) .


Limited implementation of self reliance activities since the decision on 8 April to implement only critical activities in the camps to help prevent the spread of COVID 19 has increased the vulnerability of beneficiaries who rely on seasonal distribution of seeds and other agricultural inputs.


SMSD partners provided COVID 19 prevention messaging to over 20,000 refugees in June. • SMSD partners started managing four new camp entry screening points  ( of a total of 15 screening points which were operational by the end of June )  where individuals entering the camps must wash their hands and undergo a temperature check. SMSD teams distributed 17,240 cloth masks in four camps of the total 299,400 distributed as of 30 June.


Among the Rohingya, mental health issues are often tolerated or explained as signs of black magic or spirit possession. Lockdown measures may make mental health and psychiatric patients harder to reach and more at risk of mistreatment by others in the household or the community


• A total of 3425 COVID 19 positive cases have been reported in Cox's Bazar district, of which 75 in the Rohingya camps.


CwC WG partners organised COVID 19 awareness announcements via loudspeakers/megaphones in 21 camps. For receiving community feedback/complaints, 77 information service centres in the camps and 4 information service centres in the host community were operational. 4 new audio messages on COVID 19 were developed by CwC WG partners.


In the overall fight against the disease in Cox's Bazar, WHO is using all of its available tools to detect, isolate, test and manage suspected cases. It has appointed additional medical staff to strengthen COVID 19 surveillance at camp level. Staff have recently initiated a field investigation to identify gaps in reporting cases and collecting information. In response, WHO is strengthening community surveillance with enhanced community engagement to address the existing fear and stigma around COVID 19.


As of 02 August 2020, 12 Severe Acute Respiratory Illness  ( SARI )  ITCs are active and can receive patients. The Intensive Care Unit/High Dependency Unit facility at Sadar Hospital with eight ICU and ten HDU beds is also operational. There are 448 and 38 active SARI ITC and isolation beds respectively in the camps.


[ 10 October, Bangladesh ] The country saw the recovery of 1,453 former Covid 19 patients in the last 24 hours till Saturday 8 am which pushed up the number of total recoveries across the country to 2,91,365.


The Gender Hub and the Health Sector Gender Focal Point facilitated an awareness raising session on COVID 19 gender implications for 37 middle managers and technical staff from the humanitarian community.


[ 7th October 2020 ]  The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society  ( BDRCS )  noted in their July 10 operations report that their appeals had only received 13 percent in hard pledges and they have had to cut back on provision of services, including limiting their support to providing shelter, technical support, improved access to medical treatment, and provision of WASH services.


As of 30 August, 14 Severe Acute Respiratory Illness Isolation and Treatment Centres  ( SARI ITCs )  with a capacity of 946 beds were active and receiving patients.


COVID 19 awareness messaging was disseminated through audio clips to 13,906 parents, community members and caregivers by 295 Burmese Language Instructors  ( BLIs ) . 10,602 parents and community members received awareness leaflets during household visits.


[ 9th Nov 2020, Bangladesh ]  32% reported harassment by house owner, 7% by local people 57% did not face any harassment and violence


Bangladesh, 24 August 2020: The global death toll from the coronavirus has crossed 800,000 as confirmed cases surged past 23 million, with Bangladesh overtaking Pakistan to become 15th on the list of countries with most COVID 19 patients.


In addition, the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse  ( PSEA )  Network continues to work with Sectors to operationalise safe and conflict sensitive SEA reporting mechanisms through adapting and using alternative modalities, to ensure effective SEA referral pathways, capacity development, awareness raising and information for communities, humanitarian actors and relevant authorities in the COVID 19 context. PSEA guidance has been disseminated in coordination with the PSEA Network.


Health sector coordinated three online awareness sessions for health partners in collaboration with ISCG Gender hub, PSEA network and GBV Sub Sector. Participation in each of the sessions by health sector partners was as follows: Gender; 34 participants, PSEA; 46 participants and GBV; 36 participants. Two more sessions are planned for health partners in the coming week on protection and child protection.


WASH Sector partners reached 242,983 individuals through a neighbourhoodbased approach and 248,516 individuals through mass media with COVID 19 awareness messages in host and Rohingya communities


WHO continues to support partners as co facilitators/observers of internal cascade trainings conducted by the partners both remotely and on site • WHO is engaging with partners on health care waste management options for the SARI ITCs


Bangladesh Red Crescent teams, supported by the IFRC and other partners, are providing critical ongoing healthcare, relief supplies including safe water, longer term support for more secure homes, along with protection and support for women and those most at risk. The relief operations are among the biggest ever in the region.


• An additional 18 screeners completed orientation for the points of entry  ( POE )  sites and are ready to begin temperature screening in their respective camps. Supportive supervision for POE was offered at Camp 12, Camp 9 and Camp 7. New IEC materials and visual cues were distributed to assist in sensitizing the community to hand hygiene and temperature screening.


Messages have been developed on COVID 19 in general, risks and vulnerabilities,safe and dignified burials, home based care, isolation and quarantine, isolation and treatment centers and other issues. WHO has provided technical input to responses to rumors and community feedback through Communication with Community  ( CWC )  mechanisms


To strengthen the surveillance and outbreak investigation, Rapid Investigation and Response Team  ( RIRT )  induction trainings were carried out last week and the 100 participants deployed in camps accordingly as per RIRT mapping to respond to the outbreak. Recruitment of 20 camp wise Health and Disease Surveillance Officers  ( CHDSOs )  is ongoing and they will be deployed in the coming weeks to coordinate the COVID 19 response in the camps.


WHO continues to support the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research  ( IEDCR )  Field Laboratory in the Cox's Bazar Medical College with human resources, equipment, supplies/consumables and technical and operational expertise. From early April until 12 July, 18,449 tests have been conducted. As of 12 July 2020, a total of 2,973 tests were positive for COVID 19 in Cox's Bazarfrom the host community. So far, 981 tests have been conducted for Rohingya refugees/FDMN, with 57 positive cases to date

Humanitarian conditions
Capacities & response


Immunizations are an essential health service to protect individuals from vaccine preventable diseases  ( VPD ) . WHO continues to provide guidance regarding the operation and sustaining of immunization programs in the context of the COVID 19 pandemic


In the camps, Nutrition Sector partners trained 5,783 Rohingya and 1,783 Bangladeshi mothers on measuring Mid Upper Arm Circumference  ( MUAC )  and referring children to the nearest integrated nutrition facilities.


In addition to the challenges posed by the COVID 19 containment measures, many households have not received shelter assistance in more than a year. Given that bamboo and tarpaulin weaken over time, shelters become more susceptible to the impacts of small scale weather events.


In July, 630 m3 of relief items were received into common storage on behalf of six organisations making it a total of 4045 m3 of relief items stored on behalf of 15 organisations in Madhu Chara, Balukhali, Unchiprang, Teknaf and COVID 19 Special Hub in Cox's Bazar district.


Rohingya refugees – women, girls, men and boys – are at the centre of progress achieved by the humanitarian operation. Their role has become even more crucial during the COVID 19 pandemic, following sharp reductions in the numbers of humanitarian workers deploying to the camps, with the goal of slowing the spread of the COVID 19 virus.


Nutrition support through the Blanket Supplementary Feeding Programme  ( BSFP )  is now jointly distributed with food assistance in retail outlets to reduce risk of COVID 19 transmission.


WFP is also distributing double rations of nutrition assistance both for the malnutrition prevention and treatment programmes at general food assistance sites. Additional porters have been engaged to support households in transporting the increased quantity of food.


Provision of essential health services in the context of COVID 19 in Cox's Bazar s:1900 copies of Government of Bangladesh reproductive health guidelines were printed for use by all NGO/ INGO, government and UN supported health facilities, including for antenatal care, intrapartum and postnatal care, maternity guidelines volumes 1 and 2, EmONC protocols, and midwifery SOPs.


Child friendly key message/poster development on COVID 19 awareness with help of CP subsector and ensure the delivery. Clean and disinfect learning spaces. Establish hand washing facility.Consolidate and disseminate messages developed by Health sector for caregivers and parents on COVID 19 awareness


Similar to trends seen elsewhere globally for refugees, the pandemic situation in Cox's Bazar is negatively affecting the overall protection environment. Protection monitoring and case support continues to be conducted by UNHCR and partners, including with the help of refugee volunteers. The number of refugees in need of legal assistance and mediation is increasing


Swiss Red Cross:2,800 HH reached by COVID 19 outreach work  ( Awareness Raising, Hand Hygiene, Leaflet Distribution ) .


Across 14 camps in which UNHCR supports nutrition activities in Cox's Bazar, over 36,000 mothers have been trained to screen their children for malnutrition using a mid upper arm circumference measurement method, known as ‘MUAC'.


[ 31st July 2020, Cox's Bazar  ]  Refugee Camps High number of deaths due to COVID 19 reported in Cox's Bazar Sadar  ( 62% of all host community deaths in Cox's Bazar District ) .


This year, COVID 19 is posing additional challenges. The first Rohingya person with COVID 19 in the camps was confirmed on 15 May. An immediate impact of this was a further erosion of trust in the healthcare system. Rumours and misinformation are rife, and fear is keeping people in need of essential non COVID 19 healthcare away from clinics


To avoid gathering people in groups, our outreach teams in the camps and the neighbouring Bangladeshi villages go house to house, speaking with individual family members


[ 31st July 2020, Cox's Bazar  ]  Limited Tension reported in most areas – but mistrust between community, humanitarian actors and refugees reportedly increasing. ▪ Teknaf   Inter communal tensions increased more than usual.


Along with regular WASH intervention in response to COVID 19, hygiene promotion activities are being prioritized. For instance, 1898 hand washing devices are installed in different public places like distribution centers and HP volunteers are disseminating COVID massages during distribution of soap at distribution points. Apart from this, installation of WASH facilities – latrines, bathing cubicles, water network, black and grey water network   in six isolation and treatment centers are nearly operational.


Prior to the COVID 19 pandemic, Rohingya refugee children were generally neither enrolling nor attending education programs consistently.


CiC Gender Officers worked with Rohingya volunteers and women leaders across 13 camps to address gender issues and identify solutions, and led orientation sessions on protection against sexual exploitation and abuse  ( PSEA )  reaching 1,675 Rohingya community members, including 886 women.


Ultimately, informal education programming will always be limited by the lack of any form of accreditation or qualifications for graduating students.

At risk->Risk and vulnerabilities
Impact->Driver/aggravating factors


[ July August 2020, Bangladesh ]  Rohingya Refugees: 3% of households reported the presence of at least one child  ( 17 and younger )  working for money in the 30 days prior to data collection


Food and relief items are being provided by humanitarian partners to those affected, while the country continues to deal with COVID 19 crisis that is compounding the existing vulnerabilities.


Drop in food expenditure follows the same trends as income losses from primary IGAs across types of work. Daily wage laborers faced the highest reduction in both income and food expenditure whereas monthly salaried wage workers faced the least drop compared to rest of the work groups


Evidently, even with the least drops in income, monthly salaried wage workers incurred similar drop in food expenditure like other groups, plausibly due to two reasons:  ( i )  mobility restrictions and closure of markets restricting purchase and  ( ii )  very low pre crisis income levels.

Impact->Impact on people
Impact->Driver/aggravating factors


During the week, COVID 19 testing of refugees continued to increase: 878 refugees were tested, compared to 699 in the previous week. In host communities, testing also increased with 490 tests conducted, compared to 459 in the previous week.


Top three problems with functioning of health facilities  ( 138 responses ) : 1 Lack of medicines/medical equipment in health facilities  ( 79% )  2 Health facilities are very crowded so avoid going due to Covid fears  ( 23% )  3 Lack of female staff in health facilities to test and/or treat women  ( 14%


[ 28 September   04 October, Cox's Bazar  ] :A training in Community Based Mortality Reporting has been launched during the reporting period. With a total of four batches, around 150 medical doctors, reporting officers and community health workers are expected to participate in this capacity building


[ 7 October, Bangladesh ] So far, 3,73,151 patients have been detected in the country since March 8 after testing 20,26,808 samples and 18.41 percent of them have turned out to be Covid 19 positive.


[ 28 September   04 October, Cox's Bazar  ] :The cumulative number of mild patients is 36 855, and 175 moderate/ severe patients. 1690 persons with COVID symptoms were referred to health facilities from a total of 17 307 to date.


In addition, various hygiene items such as masks, soap, bleaching powders and buckets as well as key information and messages are given to the families as part of COVID 19 preventive measures.


Sixty two confirmed cases have been reported in Rohingya camps as of 19 July 2020. A total of 23 individuals are in institutional quarantine in the camps.


A total of 3188 COVID 19 positive cases have been reported in Cox's Bazar district  ( including Rohingya camps )  as of 19 July 2020 as per Civil Surgeon Office, Cox's Bazar.


WHO has supported Ukhia Upazilla Heath Complex with equipment for screening and diagnosis of Noncommunicable diseases  ( NCDs )   ( including Digital blood pressure machine, weight machine, height scale, stethoscope, glucometer ) . The equipment will also benefit 17 community clinics and four union subcenters, in addition to the UHC.


As of 19 July 2020, 62 cases have been reported from the camps: four cases from camp 1W, two from camp 2E, six from camp 2W, nine from camp 3, one from camp 4, one from camp 5, ten from camp 6, five from camp 7, one from camp 8E, two from camp 8W, two from camp 9, two from camp 10, two from camp 11, one from camp 12, two from camp 14, two from camp 18, two from camp 22, two from camp 24, one from Camp 27, two from Kutupalong RC and three from Nayapara RC


WHO continues to support the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research  ( IEDCR )  Field Laboratory in the Cox's Bazar Medical College with human resources, equipment, supplies/consumables and technical and operational expertise. From early April until 19 July, 19,819 tests have been conducted.


Top three water issues  ( 225 responses ) † 1 Long waiting times at water source  ( 40% )  2 Functional water sources are far away  ( 38% )  3 Pathway to water source is difficult  ( 28% )


IOM staff in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh provided remote psychosocial counselling to 68 beneficiaries who cannot reach health centres or are afraid of COVID 19 exposure outside of their homes. A total of 33 beneficiaries received one on one support for COVID19 related anxiety, while 68 received basic emotional support and referrals through the hotline. IOM also extended its mental health and psychosocial support  ( MHPSS )  services to host communities through the Kutupalong Community Clinic, an IOM supported government health facility.


The drastic reduction in consultations with healthcare providers  ( over 50% in last 3 months )  poses a risk to long term health as both minor and chronic health issues go unchecked and unaddressed, potentially increasing the average mortality and morbidity of non COVID 19 diseases.


The Bangladesh Army has been supporting the civilian administration with the COVID 19 response since 22 March, both nationally and in Cox's Bazar District, including at the Upazila level through support for the establishment of quarantine facilities and the reinforcement of emergency services, as well as by ensuring adherence to Government directives and movement restrictions.


Loss of livelihood is forcing parents and caregivers to take desperate measures that are negatively impacting children's well being. In Bangladesh, over 33% of children may be sent to beg or may engage in high risk jobs and almost 2% are likely to be married off early


With some 120 partners contributing to the response, consistent and efficient information management, coordination, communications and advocacy are needed, preserve and expand humanitarian space access, ensure a common analysis of needs, and reinforce the voices of Rohingya refugees and affected Bangladeshi communities. Effective coordination is needed more than ever during the COVID 19 pandemic, and new demands are emerging with the extension of assistance to vulnerable Bangladeshis across the District beyond Ukhiya and Teknaf Upazilas.


The movement of supplies and people across the globe, within Bangladesh and Cox's Bazar district has become increasingly challenging. The results have included a limited availability of trucks and increased transport costs, together with an increased need for additional storage capacity to stockpile humanitarian supplies closer to the people in need. An expected surge in the supply of materials specifically needed for the COVID 19 response will place further strains on an availability in an already limited market, and will increase requirements for storage outside of the camp area to maintain security and access to stocks.


[ 28th April 2021, Cox's Bazar ]  Refugees: They continuously pointed out that queuing at crowded distribution points and public facilities – such as toilets, water points, and health clinics – without proper gender segregated lines and without the proper clothing makes upholding their dignity and honour almost impossible.


[ Feb 21, Cox's Bazar ]  12,556 relevant and essential persons such as caregivers, community volunteers, youth and adolescent volunteers engaged in capacity building opportunities on COVID‐19 instructions and Caregiver led education instructions


4According to the WHO, a two thirds reduction of total ARI consultations likely indicates changes in Rohingya health seeking behaviors. In addition, since the COVID 19 response began in the camps in late March, the total number of consultations dropped over 50%


[ 31st Oct 2020, Bangladesh ]  So far, 3,066 people have died in Dhaka division, 1,171 in Chattogram, 371 in Rajshahi, 468 in Khulna, 200 in Barishal, 245 in Sylhet, 262 in Rangpur and 122 in Mymensingh.


Among host communities, 6603 people participated in 1944 community awareness meetings on COVID 19.


Emergency public health strategies introduced to delay, mitigate, contain or control the spread of COVID 19 must ensure the centrality of protection, ensure non discrimination in line with human rights standards, and safeguard the principle of asylum and nonrefoulement. The Government has fully included the Rohingya refugees in national and District level planning and implementation, and this welcome approach should continue.


Revisit and review messaging and community engagement activities about the pandemic in the camps: There is also a need to revisit approaches around information dissemination; community engagement approaches need to be rethought with an emphasis on trust building.


Cox's Bazar is one of the country's poorest and most vulnerable districts, with a total Bangladeshi population of 2,650,000. The District Administration predicts that more than 700,000 people in Cox's Bazar District may have become jobless because of Government restrictions related to COVID 19, based upon poverty and vulnerability estimates for the Bangladeshi population

Impact->Impact on people
At risk->Risk and vulnerabilities
Impact->Driver/aggravating factors


A total of 106 migrants  ( 95 men and 21 women )  who returned from EU member states and other approved transit and European countries following the COVID 19 outbreak were identified by project staff and volunteers, in coordination with government officials and migration forum members, via telephone


• WHO is supporting translation of essential technical materials into local language to improve uptake of messages and support behavioral impact


In May, WFP transferred USD 6.5 million through the 16 e voucher outlets and Bangladeshi retailers engaged in the food assistance supply chain.


UNHCR inaugurated the first two Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Isolation and Treatment Centers  ( SARI ITCs )  for both Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi communities in Cox's Bazar District.


ETS is providing connectivity in 21 sites, including the Windy Terrace Hotel which is a common meeting area in Cox's Bazar where some staff also reside. The ETS is currently providing data connectivity to staff from 10 UN agencies and 3 NGOS and security telecommunications services are provided to the UN Agencies in the mega camp in Ukhiya and other operational areas including Cox's Bazar city and Teknaf.


WHO continues to support partners as cofacilitators/observers of internal cascade trainings conducted by the partners both remotely and on site • WHO is engaging with partners on health care waste management options for the SARI ITCs. • WHO, in the reporting week, conducted health care waste management training for 10 medical staff members  ( cleaners and waste handlers )  on proper health care waste management at the UNHCR SARI facility


Establish monitoring and mentoring system for quality MNCAH services. . Develop digital training platforms on health. . Promote evidence based nutrition policymaking


Distribution of COVID 19 related items are continuing to be conducted daily to both government agencies and implementing partners • Support work for the IEDCR laboratory in Medical College is ongoing. Additional extension and backup power was provided. Support for transport of test kits supplies from Dhaka to Cox's Bazar.


WASH Sector partners reached 442,886 individuals with COVID 19 awareness messages through a neighbourhood based approach in host and Rohingya communities.


In the camps, WASH Sector partners provided soap to 63,474 households and family hygiene kits to 19,231 households; and installed 3,215 hand washing stations in public places, households and near toilets and 2,021 tippy taps  ( a cost effective hands free device for handwashing )  and 13,037 stools  ( with bucket and tap )  at household level


CwC WG partners organised COVID 19 awareness announcements via loudspeakers/megaphones in 34 camps and host communities in Cox's Bazar Sadar, Pekua, Maheskhali and Kutubdia. For community feedback/complaints, 83 information service centres in the camps and 4 information service centres in the host community were operational. CwC WG published its 13th COVID 19 Risk Communication and Community Engagement Update, including 6 new audio messages on COVID 19 developed by partners.


Shelter/NFI Sector partners also distributed 57 NFI packages including blankets, floor mats, mosquito nets, solar lamps, and kitchen utensils, to quarantine centres.


Across 20 camps and in the host community in Ukhiya and Teknaf, 6CiC )  Gender Officers, 40 volunteers, and 42 women leaders of women's and transgender civil society organisations continued to conduct awareness raising sessions and consultations on COVID 19 and gender including using gender information, education and communication materials.


During late June, trainings were conducted in four camps and during late July, a remaining four camps were covered. Meanwhile, IOM continued to maintain a strong presence at the shelter and sub block levels, promoting hygiene awareness to prevent the spread of Covi19 and supporting Rohingya in need of protection services.


The Health Sector is providing gender segregated spaces in isolation and treatment facilities and is developing a gendered protection action plan on COVID 19 to fast track and monitor implementation of critical gender guidance and recommendations. Discussions are ongoing on how maternal health services will be adapted in the COVID 19 context.


50 confirmed COVID 19 cases in the camps, and 2,630 cases in the host community. 37 Rohingya refugees in quarantine who were in contact with a COVID 19 suspect or confirmed case, and 1,944 host community members.


In the past week, reports from 116,668 household visits were received, 1,698 patients with mild and 7 patients with moderate/ severe COVID like symptoms were identified and referred to the health facilities. The new approach aims to address community concerns and fears and enhance uptake of testing and treatment and has contributed to an increase in the number of tests conducted


Nutrition Sector partners trained around 2,300 Rohingya mothers and 118 Rohingya adolescent girls on measuring Mid Upper Arm Circumference  ( MUAC )  and referring children to the nearest integrated nutrition facilities.


[ 14th October 2020 , Bangladesh The country's health authorities detected 1,684 new cases [ COVID ]  and confirmed the death of 16 new patients in 24 hours. The total fatalities in the country now stand at 5,593. Meanwhile, 1,536 patients recovered from the disease and the total recoveries from coronavirus have reached 297,449.


COVID  19 Awareness raising best practice will be used to promote other hygiene messaging. IOM's WASH unit has been monitoring the reach and efficacy of COVID  19 messaging in the camps where IOM is providing WASH services. As part of this effort, IOM has conducted two surveys   the first was form 11 to 26 April 2020 in all of the camps and the second took place form 22 June to 2 July 2020 in the camp where less than 80% of the people during first round of monitoring could describe at least three measures to protect themselves and others.


Child protection actors are working closely with volunteers and through community based child protection mechanisms to raise the awareness of children, caregivers and communities on risks associated with COVID 19 and to support communities in ensuring that systems are in place to protect children, provide alternative care, and increase children's knowledge and understanding.


Operations and Logistic Support: Under its Covid 19 support to the government, IOM donated personal protective equipment, medical equipment and furniture for Covid 19 ITC at Ramu and chakaria. Supplies included, 5,000 face shields, 1,000 coveralls, 10,000 surgical masks, and 1,000 N95 masks, among others.


A total 3,370 Covid 19 Non food items  ( 1,288 through Shelter NFI common pipeline partners and 2,082 through IOM )  were distributed in all 16 camps under IOMs; AoR. A total of 9,438b radios from the shelter NFI common pipelines were provided to the Transition and Recovery Division  ( TRD )  to distribute among members of the host community, ensuring beneficiaries can access the latest Covid 19 updates and information.


All the medical facilities planned to be supported by UNHCR are now fully operational. Two UNHCR Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Isolation and Treatment Centres  ( SARI ITCs )  are receiving patients, including those from the host communities. As of 30 June, a cumulative number of 101 patients mostly from the host communities were admitted, of which 50 were discharged following recovery. The facilities are receiving patients with severe symptoms, including those who require oxygen therapy.


From early April until 20 September 2020, a total of 45 380 tests for COVID 19 have been conducted in the laboratory, of which 38 831 from Cox's Bazar district. The remainder are from Bandarban and Chittagong districts.


The protection sector also conducted community based awareness sessions by the ‘Rohingya role models' in the camps. A total of 132,576 people have been reached through the protection initiatives to raise awareness on prevention of COVID 19.


SMSD Sector partners trained Rohingya committees and religious leaders on safe and dignified burials in the context of COVID 19 using an animated video produced by CwC partners. SMSD Sector partners continued to provide infrastructure support to health facilities, refurbished one medicine room, and reinforced 18 meters of slope protection for a health post.


A 4 days training on Water and Sanitation in Health care facilities Improvement Tool  ( WASH FIT )  has been completed for 80 health care workers from 53 health facilities this year. To date, 184 health professionals from 155 health care facilities have been trained on WASH FIT in Cox's Bazar


As part of COVID 19 risk prevention measures and IPC compliance in the host communities and camps, WASH Sector partners disinfected 67,271 WASH facilities and 4,647 public buildings.


An additional 1,079 BLI and facilitators provided remote guidance on COVID 19 prevention, wellbeing and self care to 39,563 children, youth and adolescent. 50,123 parents, caregivers and community volunteers were trained on education in emergencies and child, adolescent, and youth friendly messages. In the host communities, 95 volunteers distributed 1,241 COVID 19 awareness leaflets and 95 educational facilitators conducted COVID 19 awareness sessions for 1,426 parents, community members and caregivers.


[ 13th October 2020 , Bangladesh ]  Of the total victims  [ COVID Death ] , 4,292 are men and 1,285 are women. Of the latest 22 victims, 17 are aged above 50 years.


WHO is supporting the expansion of the district laboratory for increased testing for Rohingya refugees and host community. The current daily sampling capacity is around 500 samples. The laboratory is supporting Chittagong and Bandarban district besides Cox's Bazar. In total 18, 733 tests have been conducted.


CwC WG partners reached 212,693 people in the camps and host community with key COVID 19 messages through community engagement activities, including 49,421 neighbourhood based sessions, 16 sessions on home based health care for older persons, 14,593 community consultation meetings, 1,491 radio group listening sessions, 389 video/film viewings, and an additional 4,070 sessions led by religious leaders. For community feedback and complaints, 80 information service centres in the camps and 3 information service centres in the host community were operational.


54 confirmed COVID 19 cases in the refugee camps, and 2,848 cases in the host community. 11 Rohingya refugees in quarantine who were in contact with a COVID 19 suspect or confirmed case, and 1,650 host community members. 1,522 government and humanitarian health care workers were trained on Infection Prevention and Control  ( IPC )  at health facilities.


Cluster members also distributed hygiene materials like soap, hand sanitizer and hand washing devices at the vulnerable communities in Gazipur, Khulna, Narial, Comilla, Cox'sbazar, Gaibandha, Rangpur, Sirajganj, Kurigram, Jamalpur, Sunamganj, Kishorganj, Pirojpur, Barguna, Satkhira, Nilphamari, Netrokona, Lalmonirhat and Rajshahi districts. Cluster members disinfected communal WASH facilities and public placesto respond to suspected cases


The government has allowed reopening of offices and public transports on a limited scale until 3 August 2020 with conditions as the general holiday imposed for containing the pandemic ended on 30 May 2020 after 66 days.


In 2020, in addition to COVID 19, Cyclone Amphan that weakened from a super cyclone to an ‘extremely severe cyclonic storm' slammed into the coastal districts of West Bengal, India and then it entered Bangladesh on 20 May 2020 evening with wind speed of 150kmph and caused huge destruction in 26 districts across the country.


Orientation on Protection, Gender and Inclusion  ( PGI ) , Prevention and Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse  ( PSEA )  and Child Protection  ( CP )  was organized remotely for ULOs and Volunteers of Bogura, Manikganj, Lalmonirhat, Sirajganj, Munshiganj and Gaibandha districts in response to present flood situation as well as COVID 19 situation where 33 individuals  ( 25 male and 8 female )  took part.


80 beds are being ready to use at Integrated Isolation and Treatment Centers  ( IITCs )  for COVID 19 patients in Camp 2E and Camp 7.  21,681 people reached through outreach on handwashing, mask using, PGI, IITCs available services, properly hand sanitizing and physical distancing.


340 individuals provided with information and feedbacks from information hubs.  BDRCS received 10,000 surgical masks for PMO provided by IFRC CO.


BRAC noted low numbers of slum dwellers going to hospitals or reporting. BRAC's informal survey through its community organizers found 290 patients with COVID 19 like symptoms in around 300 slums but cautioned formal studies were required to confirm the situation.


Despite the order from the Government for all hospital authorities to ensure treatment for all patients, denial of healthcare, substandard quality and accessibility of services combined with stigmatization and discrimination continue to be reported as patients, including those with non COVID 19 symptoms, claim to be refused treatment, some with deadly consequences. Hospitals are reporting lack of resources and manpower to treat increasing numbers


SRC – Cox's Bazar Operations / PMO  4,979 persons received COVID 19 messages in the camps, among those 512 were pregnant and lactating women, 450 elderly and 51 persons with disabilities.  3,151 persons received COVID 19 messages in Palongkhali Union  ( Host Community ) .  28 community volunteers were trained on waste collection and COVID 19 awareness raising in Palongkhali Union  ( Host Community ) . 18 staff and members of the Palongkhali Union parishad were trained on COVID 10 mitigation and containment measures.


Social protection : • Support targeted increases in climate sensitive social protection sector based budgeting, with an emphasis on increased social safety coverage both vertically and horizontally. • Promote institutional efforts to strengthen, accelerate, invest in and scale up supply, while closely monitoring the volume and quality of social expenditure.


2 Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Isolation and Treatment Centres  ( SARI ITCs )  in Ukhiya and Kutupalong ■Over 190 cases provided with care and assistance to dateIntensive Care Unit  ( ICU )  ward in Sadar Hospital, Cox's Bazar ■10 ICU / 8 high dependency beds continue to provide support  ( close to 90 admissions )


WHO continues to support partners as co facilitators on a cascade of trainings conducted remotely and on site to enhance COVID 19 preparedness. To date, 4 day trainings for Infection, Prevention and Control  ( IPC )  were provided to 1727 humanitarian health care workers from Severe Acute Respiratory Infection  ( SARI )  ITC partners and Government facilities and 790 government workers from six Upazilas.


At the beginning of 2020 152 SM partner staff were trained across the 34 camps in site management. Despite the COVID 19 FSMU organized virtual customized CCCM modules orientation trainings for 18 Action Aid Staff as a newly selected UNHCR Site Management Partner.


Since COVID 19 pandemic, government issued restrictions for camp access cutting site management camp presence by 80%.