Dhaka, March 04 – Bangladesh is at high risk of getting affected by novel coronavirus, Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) Director Professor Meerjady Sabrina Flora said on Wednesday. At a regular briefing in IEDCR, Flora said, “Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection has spread 73 countries of the world including China. Coronavirus infected patients were found in eight countries in the last 24 hours. So, no country including Bangladesh is free from the risk of getting infected by the coronavirus.”
The IEDCR director said, to combat COVID-19 Bangladesh has suspended the visa on arrival for citizens of Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea. The citizens of other countries have also been asked to make sure that they do not carry the virus into Bangladesh.
Flora disclosed that a Bangladeshi national has been infected with coronavirus or Covid-19 in Italy after he was tested coronavirus positive in Milan city. “In Bangladesh, 103 people were tested so far but no-one was found to be carrying the virus.”
“Five local and foreign nationals, who were admitted in isolation units of different hospitals in the country, have been declared free of coronavirus after further test by IEDCR. Four people have been kept in isolation but they were also found negative in the test,” she said.
The director said, “All the patients kept in the isolation units are now in good health. Though no coronavirus infections have so far been detected in the country, we have to be prepared with all necessary measures to battle the virus.”
Chinese ambassador echoes IEDCR’s concern
Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador in Dhaka Li Jiming also said Bangladesh faces the highest risk of getting affected by novel coronavirus outbreak as the virus has already spread in different parts of the globe including Bangladesh’s neighbouring countries.
“The virus has spread in the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh. It has also spread in the Middle East with which region the country has economic relations. As a result, Bangladesh must prepare at this moment to prevent a possible coronavirus outbreak,” Ambassador Jiming made the remark yesterday at an event held in Keraniganj, organized by China Railway Group Limited (CREC), the contractor of the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project.
The Chinese ambassador said Bangladesh’s measures to contain coronavirus are not satisfactory
He also requested the Bangladeshi government to increase the visa period of the Chinese citizens currently living in Bangladesh as Beijing has already taken the same measure for Bangladeshi citizens in China.
All precautions are taken in the Padma bridge project site
Talking at the project site, Wang Kun, Project Director of Padma Bridge Rail Link (PBRL) said, since the outbreak, effective and efficient actions have been undertaken by CREC to achieve two targets: ensuring zero infection for all the project staff and maintaining the work progress.
One of the measures by CREC stated that all the project staff on vacation in the Hubei province of China would enjoy their leave until the central lockdown is cancelled. And those permitted to return to Bangladesh will be quarantined for at least a fortnight.
Kun said to ensure prevention and control, daily reporting systems regarding the conditions of the staff are being maintained. Adequate amount thermometers and medical masks have been purchased and have been distributed to all Chinese and local employees, he said.
“The offices are being sterilized twice daily along with the preparation of a detailed plan for an emergency situation. Due to those measures, there has been no single infected case so far. To ensure control, a field hospital near Buriganga River has been set up as contingency,” said Kun.
Kun said the outbreak of Coronavirus is affecting the execution of the two mega projects of CREC “to some extent” because some business entities are not in full operation in China and some project staff in the epidemic centre are not allowed to leave.
“To ensure the continuity of the work progress, CREC has been trying its best to mitigate the impact of Coronavirus. Now all of the non-Hubei key staff has returned to Bangladesh after their holiday had been shortened. Those who are currently working in Bangladesh have been instructed not to avail any yearly holiday until further notice and weekend holidays are being utilized to make up for the loss of time due to the Coronavirus,” said Kun.
To make up for the insufficiency of Chinese workers, more skilled local workers have been recruited. Just to be on the safe side, procurement sources of project materials are being diversified and interaction with logistics companies has been greatly strengthened to ensure the supply of project materials and equipment, he added.
Representatives of Chinese contractors meanwhile proposed that, due to fast spread of the virus in countries like South Korea and Italy, Bangladesh government may need to take a closer watch over people coming from other countries except for China.
Kuwait restricts entrance of Bangladeshi national
Meanwhile, in a move aimed at controlling the rapid spread of the disease at home, Kuwait’s civil aviation authority said on Tuesday that passengers from 10 nations, including Bangladesh, must produce certificates issued by the Kuwaiti embassy in their country saying they are coronavirus free. – Staff Reporter
