Three more COVID-19 cases detected

Quarantine must for all returnees: Cabinet

Three fresh patients have been detected with coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, raising the total cases in the country to eight. Three of them have already recovered. The newly identified patients are one woman and two children under the age of 10 and they are family members of two other Covid-19-infected patients, who tested positive on March 14.

Prof Meerjady Sabrina Flora, director of Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) revealed the information at a media briefing on the latest coronavirus situation at the institute’s Mohakhali office in the capital yesterday. Meanwhile, the government has announced a 14-day mandatory quarantine for all Bangladeshi and foreign nationals arriving in Bangladesh from abroad as part of precautionary measures against the deadly coronavirus. Legal action will be taken against anyone violating the directive.

The decision was taken at the weekly cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. Briefing after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Khandkar Anwarul Islam said the decision must be followed by all. Failure to adhere to the directive will result in government action.

Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Director, AHM Touhid-ul Ahsan, at a press briefing said that all passengers coming from European countries will be pushed back after arrival here. He also said, “We will send NOTAM to all airport authorities so that they do not allow someone to come to Bangladesh via any transit.”

Meanwhile, 304 Bangladeshi returnees, including 95 from the European countries, landed at the airport around 6:50pm. Of the 95 passengers, 68 were from Italy and the remaining ones from other countries including Germany. Upon their arrival amid inbound travel ban from Europe, these passengers were taken to Ashkona Hajj camp in the capital for quarantine.

Chairman of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman said the flight was allowed to land on ‘humanitarian grounds’.

IEDCR not to receive samples at office

The IEDCR has announced that it will no longer receive samples from suspected COVID-19 patient directly at their office. People concerned about possible infection have been advised to contact the institute through the hotline and teams will collect samples from home, if symptoms indicate a possible infection.

Dr Meerjady said, “There is no need to visit the IEDCR office to give samples as the virus can spread through the infected people. IEDCR team will collect samples from home after notifying via hotline numbers and if anyone shows symptoms of the disease.”

The first three infected people have all been released after their recovery. Besides, four are still in institutional quarantine while 10 are isolated at different government hospitals, according to the IEDCR.

“None of the three new patients came from abroad,” she said adding that so far 241 samples have been tested by the institute. “When contacted, we found members of that patient’s family showing symptoms of infection. Later, the tests confirmed that they’ve been infected with the virus,” she said, adding that 10 people are still in isolation. She, however, assured that the patients are in stable condition.

Legal action against anyone violating the mandatory quarantine order

The cabinet secretary Khandkar Anwarul said, the government will take action following the Communicable Diseases Prevention, Control and Eradication Law, 2018 if anyone violates the mandatory quarantine order. According to the law, a magistrate can fine Tk10,000 to Tk25,000 for violating the guidelines of home quarantine.

Deputy Commissioners, civil surgeons, ASPs, UNOs, mayors and chairmen and members of Union Parishads and imams or religious clerics in mosques and religious institutions were instructed to disseminate the message in their areas and implement the order.

The cabinet secretary cited an example where the local administration in Manikganj fined a Saudi returnee Tk 10,000 on Sunday for violating the quarantine directive. Also, after the divisional commissioner of Rangpur returned from abroad yesterday, he was asked to go on mandatory quarantine.

“We told him to go for a mandatory quarantine for 14 days. There’s no other option. Any government official or any members of the public arriving from abroad must be quarantined for 14 days,” the secretary said.

Immigration will check passengers

HSIA Director Touhid-ul Ahsan said, “Our immigration will check passengers travel history thoroughly and will send back on same flight if anyone from Europe try to enter the country.”

“A US-Bangla Airlines flight carrying some 44 passengers, including 34 Chinese and 10 Bangladeshis, arrived here from China. They had clearance certificates of being coronavirus-free after 14-day quarantine there,” he added. The airport director further said, “None of them have been found positive after screening at the airport. Yet we advised them to stay in home quarantine.”

CU sends six people to quarantine

Chittagong University (CU) authorities sent six people, including two of its students and an Italy returnee, to quarantine. CU Proctor Ahsanul Kabir Palash said that they raided a room of a University Hall around 2am after learning that an Italy returnee was staying there.  “They were immediately sent to Fauzdarhat Isolation Centre for quarantine,” he said, adding that the university will take action against the student who brought the Italy returnee to the hall.

Eight overseas returnees in home

quarantine in Savar

A total of eight people, who have returned from abroad, have been kept in home quarantine in Savar.

Savar Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Saimul Huda said, “The eight people landed in Bangladesh on March 14. Among the returnees, four are from Italy, 2 from Saudi Arabia, and the remaining two are from Dubai.” “The returnees have been told to stay at home for 14 days as a precautionary measure to stem any outbreak of coronavirus.” he added.

At least 33 people, who returned from foreign countries including Italy and China recently, have been kept under home quarantine in Gopalganj district.

At least 23 people have been kept under home quarantine at Sreemangal in Moulvibazar. Sreemangal Upazila Health Officer Dr Sazzadur confirmed the news.

Three more COVID-19 cases detected

Quarantine must for all returnees: Cabinet

Three fresh patients have been detected with coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, raising the total cases in the country to eight. Three of them have already recovered. The newly identified patients are one woman and two children under the age of 10 and they are family members of two other Covid-19-infected patients, who tested positive on March 14. Prof Meerjady Sabrina Flora, director of Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) revealed the information at a media briefing on the latest coronavirus situation at the institutes Mohakhali office in the capital yesterday. Meanwhile, the government has announced a 14-day mandatory quarantine for all Bangladeshi and foreign nationals arriving in Bangladesh from abroad as part of precautionary measures against the deadly coronavirus. Legal action will be taken against anyone violating the directive. The decision was taken at the weekly cabinet meeting held at the Prime Ministers Office with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. Briefing after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Khandkar Anwarul Islam said the decision must be followed by all. Failure to adhere to the directive will result in government action. Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Director, AHM Touhid-ul Ahsan, at a press briefing said that all passengers coming from European countries will be pushed back after arrival here. He also said, We will send NOTAM to all airport authorities so that they do not allow someone to come to Bangladesh via any transit. Meanwhile, 304 Bangladeshi returnees, including 95 from the European countries, landed at the airport around 6:50pm. Of the 95 passengers, 68 were from Italy and the remaining ones from other countries including Germany. Upon their arrival amid inbound travel ban from Europe, these passengers were taken to Ashkona Hajj camp in the capital for quarantine. Chairman of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman said the flight was allowed to land on humanitarian grounds. IEDCR not to receive samples at office The IEDCR has announced that it will no longer receive samples from suspected COVID-19 patient directly at their office. People concerned about possible infection have been advised to contact the institute through the hotline and teams will collect samples from home, if symptoms indicate a possible infection. Dr Meerjady said, There is no need to visit the IEDCR office to give samples as the virus can spread through the infected people. IEDCR team will collect samples from home after notifying via hotline numbers and if anyone shows symptoms of the disease. The first three infected people have all been released after their recovery. Besides, four are still in institutional quarantine while 10 are isolated at different government hospitals, according to the IEDCR. None of the three new patients came from abroad, she said adding that so far 241 samples have been tested by the institute. When contacted, we found members of that patients family showing symptoms of infection. Later, the tests confirmed that theyve been infected with the virus, she said, adding that 10 people are still in isolation. She, however, assured that the patients are in stable condition. Legal action against anyone violating the mandatory quarantine order The cabinet secretary Khandkar Anwarul said, the government will take action following the Communicable Diseases Prevention, Control and Eradication Law, 2018 if anyone violates the mandatory quarantine order. According to the law, a magistrate can fine Tk10,000 to Tk25,000 for violating the guidelines of home quarantine. Deputy Commissioners, civil surgeons, ASPs, UNOs, mayors and chairmen and members of Union Parishads and imams or religious clerics in mosques and religious institutions were instructed to disseminate the message in their areas and implement the order. The cabinet secretary cited an example where the local administration in Manikganj fined a Saudi returnee Tk 10,000 on Sunday for violating the quarantine directive. Also, after the divisional commissioner of Rangpur returned from abroad yesterday, he was asked to go on mandatory quarantine. We told him to go for a mandatory quarantine for 14 days. Theres no other option. Any government official or any members of the public arriving from abroad must be quarantined for 14 days, the secretary said. Immigration will check passengers HSIA Director Touhid-ul Ahsan said, Our immigration will check passengers travel history thoroughly and will send back on same flight if anyone from Europe try to enter the country. A US-Bangla Airlines flight carrying some 44 passengers, including 34 Chinese and 10 Bangladeshis, arrived here from China. They had clearance certificates of being coronavirus-free after 14-day quarantine there, he added. The airport director further said, None of them have been found positive after screening at the airport. Yet we advised them to stay in home quarantine. CU sends six people to quarantine Chittagong University (CU) authorities sent six people, including two of its students and an Italy returnee, to quarantine. CU Proctor Ahsanul Kabir Palash said that they raided a room of a University Hall around 2am after learning that an Italy returnee was staying there. They were immediately sent to Fauzdarhat Isolation Centre for quarantine, he said, adding that the university will take action against the student who brought the Italy returnee to the hall. Eight overseas returnees in home quarantine in Savar A total of eight people, who have returned from abroad, have been kept in home quarantine in Savar. Savar Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Saimul Huda said, The eight people landed in Bangladesh on March 14. Among the returnees, four are from Italy, 2 from Saudi Arabia, and the remaining two are from Dubai. The returnees have been told to stay at home for 14 days as a precautionary measure to stem any outbreak of coronavirus. he added. At least 33 people, who returned from foreign countries including Italy and China recently, have been kept under home quarantine in Gopalganj district. At least 23 people have been kept under home quarantine at Sreemangal in Moulvibazar. Sreemangal Upazila Health Officer Dr Sazzadur confirmed the news.