Incoming Passengers: Covid-free certificates to be made mandatory
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The government is going to make Covid-19 negative certificate mandatory for every incoming passenger from foreign countries, said Prof Khurshid Alam, director general of the Directorate General of Health Services.
Besides, the DGHS will also set up Covid-19 sample collection booths at quarantine centres in Ashkona Hajj Camp and in Uttara's Diabari, the DGHS chief said while visiting Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport yesterday.
Till now, inbound passengers via air or sea ports with Covid-19 negative certificates are being asked to stay in home quarantine, while those without negative certificates are being sent to two institutional quarantine centres in Dhaka and in Chattogram.
Though negative certificate for inbound passengers has been made mandatory earlier, many are not complying. The new decision will stop such practices, Habibur Rahman, spokesperson for the DGHS, who was with the DG during the visit, told The Daily Star.
A circular in this regard may be issued within days, he added.
Sources said the issue of making Covid-19 certificate mandatory was discussed in the cabinet recently.
NEW DEATHS
Twenty-one more people died from Covid-19 in the country during the 24 hours ending at 8:00am yesterday, said a DGHS press release.
With this, the total number of deaths has now reached 6,194 and the death rate stands at 1.43 percent.
Some 1,837 new infections were recorded in the meantime, taking the total figure to 4,32,333, added the release.
Around 14,060 samples were tested across the country during the time.
Meanwhile, 1,693 Covid-19 patients recovered in the 24 hours.
The number of recoveries stands at 3,49,542 and the recovery rate is 80.85 percent.
Of the 21 deceased, 17 were males.
One was aged between 41 and 50, two were between 21 and 30, four between 51 and 60, and 14 others were above 60 years, said the release.
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