Bangladeshi expatriates advised in order to avoid travel
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The federal government on Tuesday asked all Bangladeshi expatriates to avoid travels amid the spread of the novel coronavirus to 60 countries following its outbreak in China in December.
In addition, it suspended on-arrival visas for citizens from Italy, South Korea and Iran, so that it is mandatory for all to produce medical certificates before going to Bangladesh as the condition recently affected a sizable number of folks in these countries recently after China.
‘Around one crore persons from Bangladesh are staying abroad and working in several countries…We are requesting all Bangladeshi expatriates to remain wherever they are right now,’ health minister Zahid Maleque told a press conference after presiding over an inter-ministerial meeting at the secretariat over coronavirus.
The high-level meeting happened in the wake of growing concern over coronavirus that already killed 3,100 persons and infected over 80,000 people worldwide, mostly in China.
After the meeting, medical minister urged people never to panic if coronavirus infected persons are detected in Bangladesh.
Although minister said none was up to now found infected with the virus in Bangladesh, the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research director Meerjady Sabrina Flora at a press conference early in the day said five persons were positioned in isolation.
‘I would not disclose their identities and where they are staying now,’ she said, while speaking at the press conference at her office.
Health minister said the hospitals across the country have been prepared for managing coronavirus patients, with coordination by the civil surgeons. He also added that isolation units were setup at all the government and hostipal wards.
Besides, he said, the doctors and nurses received training and kits for running tests were also made available.
Zahid said three committees were formed in the meeting over the coronavirus situation.
A 31-member high-powered committee was formed led by medical minister and comprising cabinet secretary, senior secretaries and representatives from the World Health Organization, Asian Development Bank, UNICEF, World Bank and USAID.
The district- and upazila-level committees were also formed headed by deputy commissioner at the district level as the committees at the grassroots level are led by the upazila nirbahi officer.
The foreign ministry asked all Bangladesh missions abroad to seek medical certificate from citizens of the three countries before making decisions on granting them visa, a foreign ministry official said.
The government has also suspended visa-on-arrival facilities for folks holding passport of Italy and South Korea until further notice.
On arrival visa from China was also suspended earlier in the wake of the coronavirus.
The IEDCR earlier on your day asked the authorities of hotels to see it if anyone from the coronavirus-affected countries arrived.
‘Hotels frequented by the international visitors, transit passengers, crews and other guests have been advised to see us,’ said IEDCR director Meerjady Sabrina Flora.
Meanwhile, another Bangladeshi expatriate, who was simply among the five Bangladeshis infected with coronavirus in Singapore, premiered from hospital after his recovery on Tuesday.
Earlier, two other Bangladeshis were released after recovery from the hospital in Singapore. Now two others remained at hospitals, like the one in the intensive care unit in a crucial condition.
Another Bangladeshi, who was simply infected with coronavirus, remained in hospital in the United Arab Emirates, but his condition was now stable.
Source: https://www.newagebd.net
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