With COVID-19 infections rising again in Bangladesh, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has decided to reintroduce limited testing in hospitals. Initially, testing will restart only in medical college and district hospitals that have RT-PCR laboratories.
On Wednesday (June 11), Professor Halimur Rashid, Director of the Communicable Disease Control Branch of the DGHS, confirmed the decision to the media.
He stated that hospitals with RT-PCR labs have been instructed to prepare for the resumption of testing. Test kits are being sourced from local suppliers, while the Central Medical Stores Depot (CMSD) has been directed to import additional kits from abroad.
Professor Rashid added, “We hope to restart testing within the next 10 days on a limited scale.”
Testing to Be Available Only for Symptomatic Patients
According to the DGHS, testing will be limited to individuals who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms—such as fever, cough, or breathing difficulties—or those advised by physicians to be tested.
He also mentioned that if the infection rate continues to rise, testing will be expanded accordingly.
Why Resume Testing Now?
The move comes after a sharp uptick in the infection rate. In the past 24 hours, 13 people tested positive for COVID-19 from 101 samples—an alarmingly high positivity rate. This follows five positive cases from 41 samples the day before.
On June 9, the DGHS made mask-wearing mandatory again and instructed continued health screening at airports and all points of entry.
Health experts have warned of the potential for renewed community transmission. The decision to resume testing is seen as a precautionary measure.
Where Will Testing Be Conducted?
Initially, testing will resume in the following hospitals:
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Dhaka Medical College
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Mugda General Hospital
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Chattogram Medical College
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Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal, Sylhet, and Mymensingh divisional hospitals
Only hospitals with operational RT-PCR labs will be able to provide testing at this stage.
Public Health Advisory
The DGHS has urged the public to wear masks, wash hands frequently, and stay home if symptoms appear. “We do not want the situation to spiral out of control again,” said Professor Rashid. “Everyone must remain cautious.”
Latest Update from DGHS
On Tuesday (June 10), the DGHS reported 13 new COVID-19 cases from 101 tests in the past 24 hours, with no reported deaths. All newly infected patients are residents of Dhaka city. Two patients have recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2,019,378.
The overall test positivity rate since the beginning of the pandemic stands at 13.05%, while the rate in the last 24 hours was 12.87%.