Coronavirus panic an obstacle to preventing spread: IEDCR

Any unnecessary panic over coronavirus will intensify danger and create obstacles to preventing probable infection, said Prof Meerjady Sabrina Flora, director, Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).

She talked about the issue during a regular press briefing at the IEDCR in Dhaka today.

In a recent incident, a Chinese national was not allowed to enter their rented house and was forced to stay at a hotel, said Flora.

"People being overly cautious is creating awkward situations," she said.

As an infection prevention mechanism, the IEDCR earlier urged everybody from abroad, especially people from China, to stay indoors for the next two weeks.

She said that if any infected person is forced to stay outside, it could increase the chances the disease spreading.

So far, the IEDCR tested all of the suspected cases in the country (total 77) to be negative.

Meanwhile in Singapore, one of the coronavirus infected Bangladeshis is in very critical condition, according to Prof Flora.

Four others are also undergoing treatment there. "They [Singapore government] are trying their best to treat these [Bangladeshi] patients. We hope they can come back home after being fully cured," she added.