COVID – 19 is now a pandemic, as WHO director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared during a media briefing on Wednesday, 11 March.

Bangladesh situation as on 27 March, total affected 44 out of which died 5. Some of them have returned from abroad and others had come in contact with those coming from abroad. So community spread has already been started. 1^st three cases detected on 8 March. 1^st death declared on 18^th March.

Government steps: Lockdown in Shibchar Upazilla of Madaripur district on 19^th March. In Shibchar Upazilla only 664 people came from abroad in the recent past. Few other places are been lockdown locally. All school remain closed since 18^th March. All religious, political, social and cultural functions are prohibited. Government has already declared 10 days holiday in all Gov. and non-Gov. organizations which started from 26^th March. Army has been called to help administrations so that people maintain social distancing and home quarantine in true sense. Lab facilities to detect corona virus infection have been increased. PPEs to doctors and health care workers are distributing though at this moment are not sufficient.

Early detection of the cases and Isolation at this moment is the most important aspect of the control of the epidemic, though proper quarantine of the people coming from abroad should have been the most effective way to control the disease. As per DGH from 7 to 21 March 1, 72,362 people entered Bangladesh from abroad through different routes. Amongst them 17558 has been under quarantine. Rests of them are moving freely. To find out all of them and made under quarantine is the most challenging job. Moreover those under quarantine many of them are not following the proper rules of quarantine.

Global situation: By 26^th March midnight 175 countries have been affected, total affected about 5 lacs and total death more than22 thousands. Total death exceeds the china in Italy. USA seems to be next center of pandemic. The global situation is becoming grave day by day.

We don’t know the exact nature of the virus. Is it the same that started in Wuhan of China? It is said that virus is going for repeated mutations as the days pass. So side by side research on the already detected viruses should be started. We thing in Bangladesh there are laboratories in different institutes and universities who can do research on the novel corona virus. It needs coordinated approach and govt. facilitations.

It is no doubt that whatever may be the size of epidemic here in Bangladesh there will be a huge impact on economy worldwide. We think govt. and others linked with it are quite aware of the impending problem.

Not only that there will be huge impact on economy but there will be great impact on mental health of the people. This has to be kept in mind. We have to cope with the current epidemic with all our efforts but at the same time we have to be ready for the future anticipated problems.

Protection of the HCW: Government should take more vigorous measures to protect their Healthcare workers. Not only that those who are involved in the management of the corona virus are supplied with the personal protection equipment they should be sufficient in numbers and supply should be constant. Treating doctors should have the excess to the laboratory so that they can test the suspected cases as early as possible before many are contracted. They should have the incentives in any form so that they are encouraged to their job without hesitation.

WHO is not happy with the actions taken by the Govt. in many less affected countries. They are constantly warning against the havoc that have to face in future if timely appropriate measures are not taken. WHO says that many countries including Bangladesh have got the 2^nd chance to strengthen the preventive measures. They have provided with the 6 advices to be followed. We think Govt. should take the advice given by WHO director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on 25^th March very seriously and acts appropriately.