IEDCR urges returnees from coronavirus affected nations to self-quarantine for 2 weeks

Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research has requested all returnees from the coronavirus-hit countries to self-quarantine for two weeks from the date of their arrival to prevent the spread of the virus in Bangladesh.

The IEDCR also discourages people from travelling abroad. 

People, be it local and foreigner, of the sixty out of 102 countries that are affected by coronavirus have been requested to be in self-quarantine mandatorily after entering Bangladesh.

"If anyone of them develops COVID-19 symptoms, they have been asked to communicate with the IEDCR immediately," said its Director Prof Meerjady Sabrina Flora yesterday. 

On Sunday, the IEDCR confirmed that two Italy returnees had been infected with the novel coronavirus. A woman, who had come into contact with one of them, also got infected.  

The three are now in a stable condition, said Prof Sabrina. 

Following this development, the IEDCR made the request at a regular press briefing at its headquarters in the capital's Mohakhali yesterday.   

The IEDCR director asked those who are about to return or have already returned to Bangladesh to stay at home for about 14 days and stay away from their family members and others as much as possible. 

"Don't leave home for 14 days, if possible," said Prof Sabrina, adding that if they go outside home, they must wear masks regardless of the presence of coronavirus symptoms.   

In the last 24 hours, six samples were tested, but none of the results was coronavirus positive, she said.  

Eight people are currently kept in isolation as they are suspected of contracting the virus. The number of quarantined people is four and they are being kept under "centre-based quarantine", the director said.

Prof Sabrina also urged all to not panic, assuring that the coronavirus situation in Bangladesh was not serious. 

"Any soap available in the market will kill the virus if you wash your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds," she said, adding that there is no need to panic-buy sanitisers. 

Yesterday, an elderly couple, who landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital, were hospitalised after the authorities detected that they had fever. The couple returned in a flight from Saudi Arabia, said Dr Shamima, who works at the airport health desk. 

With the two, five people -- including a two-year-old child -- were hospitalised after being diagnosed with fever by the airport authorities, following their return from abroad. 

In Noakhali, a youth, who returned home from Qatar on Monday, is in quarantine as he was suffering from fever. He was admitted to Hatiya Upazila Health Complex.  

His brother-in-law, who accompanied him, was also advised to be in self-quarantine.  

Noakhali deputy commissioner said they contacted the IEDCR for collecting the youth's blood samples. 

In Chandpur, an Italy returnee is kept in isolation. He returned home on March 5 and was hospitalised with fever on Monday.  

An expert team from IEDCR collected his blood sample on Monday night, reports UNB. 

In Jashore, a woman, who returned from Saudi Arabia on Saturday, has been quarantined as she complained of sore throat and cough two days later. 

The administration of Patuakhali set up 17 isolation beds at seven hospitals. 

In Manikganj, 59 people, who returned to Bangladesh from Italy, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia, are quarantined at home.  

Twelve beds are kept for coronavirus patients at Manikganj 250-bed hospital.  

Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Health Services yesterday gave five new thermal scanners to international airports and ports across the country. 

It handed over two thermal scanners to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, one each to Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram, Osmani International Airport in Sylhet and Benapole land port, Dr Shahnila Ferdousi, line director of centre for disease control at DGHS, told The Daily Star. 

The lone thermal scanner at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport became dysfunctional last night. 

It has already started working after it was repaired, said the director. 

ENVOYS MEET HEALTH MINISTER

In another development, Health Minister Zahid Maleque yesterday held a meeting with the envoys of 30 countries at his house to discuss coronavirus outbreak across the globe, reports UNB.

Envoys of countries including the US, China, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Iran, India and India were present in the meeting. They described the current coronavirus situation in their countries. 

Directorate General of Health Services Prof Abul Kalam Azad was also present. 

[Our correspondents from Noakhali, Patuakhali and Manikganj contributed to this report.]