Addressing economic and health challenges of COVID-19 in Bangladesh: Preparation and response

17, November 2020 | Bangladesh

Authors:

Abstract

The ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) emerged out of Wuhan City, China in late 2019 and since then it has spread to at least 213 countries, taking the lives of more than 945,092, and affecting more than 30 million in a matter of months (Worldometer, 2020). Since March 8, 2020, when the first case was recorded in Bangladesh, the number of cases and deaths continued rising exponentially making Bangladesh as one of the most affected countries with 342,671 cases and 4,823 deaths as of September 16, 2020 (Worldometer, 2020). This pandemic situation, being an unprecedented multi- dimensional stressor, has created havoc on health and economy worldwide and hence, presented significant social, economic, and medical challenges consequently (Bodrud-Doza, Shammi, Bahlman, Islam, & Rahman, 2020). Bangladesh is one of the most densely popu- lated countries in the world and therefore, has been hit hard by this contagion as well as facing a massive burden in its economy and healthcare system (Mahmud, 2020).