IEDCR collecting samples from big hospitals in city

Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research is collecting blood samples from patients admitted to hospitals with respiratory problems caused by unknown germs.

"We are not concerned about confirmed pneumonia cases," director of the institute Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora told the Daily Star yesterday.

In a bid to detect coronavirus patients, IEDCR, at present, is taking blood samples at large hospitals in the capital.

Meanwhile, the 24 people who voluntarily gave blood samples to IEDCR were tested negative for coronavirus, officials said yesterday. The institute has so far tested 187 people.

Directorate General of Health Services has asked government hospitals to open special outdoor units to treat people with respiratory problems.

In another development yesterday, one of the two persons who recovered from COVID-19 infections was released from the hospital while 23 Bangladeshis quarantined in India will return home today.

The other person who recovered from the disease will be kept at the hospital for some time, Sabrina told a press conference.

IEDCR on Sunday announced detecting three persons, including two from Italy, infected with coronavirus.

The third person has yet to recover, Flora said.

She also urged people not to go to IEDCR in person and asked them to call the official numbers. "We will collect your blood samples…. Your visit puts others at risk."

She suggested people avoid leaving home unless it is necessary.

BANGLADESHIS TO RETURN

Twenty-three Bangladeshis, quarantined in the suburbs of the Indian capital for 14 days, will return home today after they were tested negative for the virus.

They will leave New Delhi for Dhaka on a flight of Indigo Airlines with financial support from Bangladesh government, officials said.

Most of them are students and there is a couple with a child.

"We'll get health clearance certificates on Friday and are hopeful of flying to Dhaka on Saturday," one of the students told UNB.

They were evacuated from China's Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus, on February 27 by a special Indian Air Force flight, according to Indian High Commission in Dhaka.

Bangladesh brought back 312 of its nationals from China on February 1 and the remaining Bangladeshis got registered to return home.

A total of 238 expatriates in Manikganj, Kishoreganj and Netrakona have been kept in quarantine at their homes.

Many of them returned from Italy, Saudi Arabia and Oman.

Over 60 more people who returned from abroad have been quarantined yesterday, reports our Manikganj correspondent quoting health department officials.