The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control, and Research (IEDCR) said that there might have been limited community transmission of deadly coronavirus (COVID-19) in two areas of the country. Asked about the community transmission of the virus, IEDCR Director Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora said, "We investigated two cases. The source of the infection has not been confirmed yet in those places. That's why, we are assuming that COVID-19 transmission may have occurred at a limited community level. But I can’t say whether it’s community transmission without analysing the detailed information.”
“Limited local transmission may have occurred in a specific place. So, we have isolated the place to prevent the transmission. But community transmission has not occurred across the country still now,” she added.
Meanwhile, the IEDCR has confirmed that four more testing facilities for novel coronavirus will be set up in Dhaka by today. It has also confirmed that a 65-year-old man has become the latest death victim of the deadly virus.
So far, IEDCR remains the the lone authorised testing facility to detect COVID-19.
The IEDCR director said this while briefing the media on the latest coronavirus situation in the country via video conferencing yesterday. She said that no new case has been reported in the same period.
According to IEDCR, the new testing facilities will be set up at the Institute of Public Health, Dhaka Shishu Hospital, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital.
New hunting number added
People are requested to call two hotlines—01944333222 & 10655—that will divert the calls to the available 17 helpline numbers of IEDCR and NSU Public Health Department.
Also, people can reach out to IEDCR via email and Facebook.
While talking to reporters, the IEDCR director again informed people about the new email address opened by the IEDCR. The email address is: ([email protected]).
Dr Meerjady said people can also call 16263 for any health-related issues. On Wednesday, IEDCR received 2,730 calls and all of them were about Covid-19, she added.
In total, 82 patients were tested in the last 24 hours. Altogether, 794 have been tested so far in the country.
Dr Meerjady came up with the information as there have been allegations that the other hotline numbers are not operating properly. The other hotlines (which were given earlier) are as follows: 01401184551, 01401184554, 01401184555, 01401184556, 01401184559, 01401184560, 01401184563, 01401184568, 01927711784, 01927711785, 01937000011, 01937110011.