Dhaka, March 11 – While two out of three infected patients in the country have recovered significantly, at least 149 people from across 12 districts have been kept in quarantine. The health condition of the duo coronavirus infected patients out of three are improving significantly and they will be released if a second test within 24-hour shows negative results, said Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) on Wednesday.
“Two patients out of three have almost recovered as their test repots were found negative. We will test them again within the next 24 hours. If their reports are found negative, they will be released. The remaining one is also in a stable condition,” IEDCR Director Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora said.
She came up with the statement at a press briefing at the IEDCR auditorium in the capital at noon.
Meanwhile, different district civil service offices have kept at least 149 people of 12 districts in-home quarantine as a cautionary measure to prevent COVID-19.
Of the districts, 79 were quarantined in Manikganj, 37 in Kishoreganj, 10 in Feni, six in Jessore, 5 in Narayanganj, three in Faridpur, two each in Bogura, Narayanganj and Jhenaidah, one each in Khulna, Sylhet and Dinajpur.
When the health ministry is busy with preventing the spread of COVID-19, government, business people and economists have expressed their concerns over the country’s economic loss due to the global outbreak of coronavirus.
Even the Asian Development Bank (ADB) recently published a report saying that Bangladesh will have a loss of $3billion dollars if COVID-19 become deadly.
During the press conference, Dr Meerjady said that IEDCR authorities tested samples of 10 patients and found them negative in the 24 hours. So far IEDCR tested 142 samples and found the reports negative expect three.
She also said people are using their hotlines to get coronavirus and health-related information and so far they received 3,225 calls.
Our correspondent reports that the district civil surgeon offices are on high alert to prevent the virus and quarantined a number of suspected persons.
In Manikganj: at least 79 people have been kept in-home quarantine in different Upazilas of the district. Though they are not infected with the virus they have been kept under intensive observation in their respective houses after their return.
Civil Surgeon of Manikganj, Anwarul Amin Akhand said, “There were about 1,200 foreign returnees in the district. They have recently returned home from Italy, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Singapore. Of them, 79 have been kept in quarantine as a precautionary measure.”
In Kishoreganj: at least 37 people were kept in quarantine in Bhairab. District civil surgeon Dr Mujibur Rahman confirmed the information. “Most of them returned from Italy. Besides, some returned from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Singapore,” he added.
Our Correspondent, Jhenidah reports: A couple of Arappur Masterpara area in Jhenidah municipality were kept in-home. They were kept in 14-day confinement in their home, said the health department office in Jhenidah.
The sources said the couple arrived at their home at Chowgachha Upazila of Jashore from Itali on March 7. They arrived in Jhenidah in the house of the bride’s parents on March 9. They came outside the house for shopping purposes at about 9.00 PM. The matter was informed to the local health department.
Civil Surgeon Dr. Salina Begum in consultation with deputy commissioner Saroj Kumar Nath quarantined them in their home for 14 days. She informed that the couple was kept at their home at Arappur Masterpara since Tuesday noon. A health department worker has been looking after the couple.
Our Correspondent, Jeshore report: Six members of a family have been kept at home quarantine in Chowgachha Upazila of the district yesterday.
Upazila Health Officer of Chowgachha, Lutfunnahar said, “They have been quarantined as the relatives of the Italy returnee visited the family on Tuesday.”
In Dinajpur: A China returnee student from Dinajpur has been quarantined at home with the suspicion of coronavirus symptoms and his sample have been collected to send to Dhaka.
He came to Bangladesh from China on 27 February via Malaysia. A day after his illness his father also got fever and cough.
Dinajpur civil surgeon Dr Abdus Kuddus said, “We have informed it to the IEDCR. Experts from IEDCR collected samples from him.”
In Faridpur: Three brothers who returned from Italy recently have been quarantined after suspicion of coronavirus.
Faridpur civil surgeon Dr Siddikur Rahman said, “They have returned from Italy on March 3. Their family has informed the Health Department. Though they are not infected with the virus they have been asked to home quarantine.”
IEDCR director also said that they are taking preparation to set up six thermal scanners at different land and airports to screen the on-arrival passengers.
On the other hand, IEDCR yesterday launched additional hotline number in the name of ‘hunting number’
The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) yesterday opened a new hotline (hunting) number to scrub public suffering as people are complaining about the existing numbers getting accesses toughly.
The new hotline number is 01944333222, which is not toll-free but IEDCR has the plan to make it toll-free as soon as possible.
IEDCR director Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora disclosed the information at a regular press briefing held at the institute in Dhaka yesterday.
The IEDCR director said that as there were complaints about IEDCR hotline numbers being unreachable, they have started a new hunting number.
Mentioning the government measures to tackle the virus from spreading, the directorate requested people to remain alert and contact IEDCR if symptoms of the disease develop.
The IEDCR received 3225 calls in last 24-hours; off them, 3145 calls were for coronavirus related
After opening four hotline numbers, IEDCR received 509 calls within just one day, where 497 calls were related to the novel coronavirus.
Apart from the existing 12 hotline numbers, people can contact IEDCR on 16263, Moreover, IEDCR will open eight more hotlines on Thursday, she added. – Staff Reporter
