No new cases detected in Bangladesh in last 24hrs: IEDCR

No new cases of the novel coronavirus have been detected in the last 24 hours in Bangladesh, Prof Meerjady Sabrina Flora, director of Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), said at a press briefing today.

Fifteen people, who had earlier tested coronavirus positive, have fully recovered and returned home, Flora told the briefing held at IEDCR office.

Another 28 people are being treated at different hospitals, she said.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque also joined her at the briefing through video conference. He talked on general preparedness of government and hospitals and other measures taken by the government to combat the spread of coronavirus.

The government has arranged 3,000-beds in Dhaka division for the treatment of coronavirus-infected patients, the minister said.

"We have provided three lakh personal protective equipment (PPE) to different hospitals. We are getting nearly 20,000 more PPEs everyday and we are gradually distributing them," he said.

The minister also said the country has recieved 250 more ventilators and the government is currently installing them at different hospitals. The government is also expecting 350 more ventilators soon.

When questioned about Intensive Care Unit (ICU) availability at hospitals outside Dhaka, the minister acknowledged the ICU scarcity but said all major hospitals outside Dhaka have been asked to keep a few ICUs ready in case they recieve patients.

The minister also said a few ventilators have been sent to the hospitals as well to ensure they are better equipped. 

Health Minister Zahid Maleque was replying to questions from journalists where he clarified he got tested for coronavirus and the results came back negative.