All China, Singapore-returnees don’t need quarantine: IEDCR

There is no need to keep all the China and Singapore returnees in hospital quarantine, Prof Meerjady Sabrina Flora, director of the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), said today.

"We see pressure from people and departments concerned to keep China and Singapore-returnees in hospital isolation. If someone comes from these countries, it doesn't mean that they are COVID-19 infected," she said at a press conference at the IEDCR auditorium in the city.

A misconception has been created among people over China and Singapore-returnees, she said.

"COVID-19 hasn't broken out in all provinces of China. So, there's no need to keep all China or Singapore-returnees in hospital quarantine," she said.

Drawing attention to the administration outside Dhaka, Flora said, "We'll keep people in quarantine upon suggestions from the Health Directorate only when the returnee has any symptom."

Flora urged district and upazila officials not to take any decision over coronavirus infection, but to instead cooperate with and inform the local health authorities in this regard.

"We're keeping China and Singapore-returnees suffering from fever and cough isolated, testing them and suggesting others to stay in self-quarantine," she added.

Over 66 Bangladeshis were tested till Monday, said Flora, adding that nobody was found infected with the virus.

The virus outbreak that began in China has infected more than 71,000 people globally and claimed 1,770 lives in China's mainland with five in Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines and France till Monday, reports AP.