Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is already a public health emergency and led to millions of cases and deaths worldwide since its outbreak on December 2019. Public health responses is not seen to identify asymptomatic individuals who are also infectious. Data are also limited on the duration of viral clearance. Methods: Retrospectively and randomly selected 2117 cases who came to do PCR for COVID-19 in Novus molecular Lab, Dhaka between 5 March 2021 and 5 May 2021. Laboratory data and patient's characteristics, such as age, sex, and other relevant history were collected from our laboratory database. Results: Among 2117 cases (symptomatic or asymptomatic patients), SARS_CoV_2 RNA was detected in 501 samples (24%). Among 501 positive cases 352 were male and 149 were female with the mean age of 34.81 (SD±12). The most common complaints were fatigue (68%), high temperature (57%); but anosmia and ageusia were present among 57% cases in symptomatic and also asymptomatic groups. Among the positive cases, 30-39 years of age group was mostly affected followed by 19-29 years. 48% asymptomatic cases were found among the positive cases. The mean CT value was significantly higher in asymptomatic (24.5 ± 0.4), compared to symptomatic (23.37± 0.3). The median duration of viral conversion in this study was 20 days (IQR 16–33 days). Conclusion: We found those people having symptoms have delayed viral clearance. These data disclose the high asymptomatic incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Bangladesh, and that these cases may act as carrier. Public health expert should think for routine screening in office or other area to identify asymptomatic cases and to contain the outbreak. Bangladesh J Med Microbiol 2021; 15 (1): 3-7

Background: The loss of smell and taste in COVID-19 patients is now acknowledged as one of the disease’s primary symptoms. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of loss of smell and taste in outpatients and hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection that RT-PCR had confirmed. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the in the Novus Molecular Lab, Dhaka between 5 June 2021 and 17 July 2021]. COVID-19 patients were included in this study who become RT-PCR positive in nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs in a single center. All of them were interviewed by a structured questionnaire over the phone. Results: Among 200 COVID-19-positive patients smell and taste dysfunction appeared among 75(37.5%) patients. Only smell dysfunction occurred in 57.0% of patients, and taste dysfunction appears in 34.0% patients, and both symptoms were present among 9.0% of patients with or without other symptoms of COVID-19. The smell and taste recovery time was distributed as 63.0% recovered within less than a week, 20.0% within 2 weeks, and 17.0% in 2 weeks. Conclusion: In conclusion significant number of COVID-19 patients are presented with loss of smell and taste. Bangladesh Journal of Infectious Diseases June 2021;8(1):32-35