Health Minister Dr Zahid Malik has said the government is discouraging people, including Bangladesh nationals, to return from China as the coronavirus outbreak worsens.
“Those who want to return from China are being discouraged. Even issuing visa for those who went on leave to China has been kept on hold,” he said while briefing reporters on the coronavirus at his ministry on Thursday.
Dr Zahid said: “I think it is better for Bangladesh citizens to stay back instead of returning home, and our embassy will provide them with all the necessary support.
"They will also get better treatment if they fall sick there. So, we are discouraging them to return home right now.”
The minister said the government has already suspended the visa on arrival for the Chinese citizens following the worsening coronavirus situation there, reports UNB.
He said if Chinese citizens want to visit Bangladesh, they must apply for visa at Bangladesh embassy in Beijing and show their medical reports.
He said the government has sent letters to the Chinese companies operating in Bangladesh saying not to take back their employees who have returned to China.
“Those who wish to go to China now from Bangladesh are also being discouraged.”
Dr Zahid said the Chinese citizens who came to Bangladesh very recently have been kept under observation on their own arrangement. “They are given cards so that they can inform us promptly if they fall sick. They have been asked not to go outside for 14 days from their places of residence.”
He suggested informing the civil surgeon or the local administration if any Chinese citizen falls sick anywhere in Bangladesh.
Urging the people of Bangladesh to remain alert about the deadly various, the minister said, “The government has taken all-out steps to provide treatment if anyone in Bangladesh infected with it.”
Besides, he said, 312 Bangladeshis brought back home from Wuhan in China will be released from Ashkona Hajj camp on February 14.
No one is infected
Dr Zahid said no coronavirus infected patient has so far been detected in Bangladesh. “Immediate steps will be taken if any information about detection of the virtuous is found. The Chinese citizens also should remain alert about it and the government will provide all-out cooperation to them.”
He said there is no reason to be worried about the availability of masks as the Japanese government will provide Bangladesh with 70 lakh masks.
The minister, however, said there is no need for a person in good physical shape to wear a mask now since no one is infected with the coronavirus.
“Anyone can wear it as a precaution. We will inform people if it is necessary to wear mask.”
He said the government had preparations beforehand to test the coronavirus. “We have modernized it further. Adequate kits have been procured for testing coronavirus within a short time. “
The minister said 170 Bangladeshis are willing to return home from China, and the Foreign Ministry is maintaining contact with them. “They cannot be brought back as no chartered plane could be hired yet.”
The death toll in China from the novel coronavirus outbreak has increased to 564, Bangladesh National Health Commission (NHC) said Thursday.
In a statement, it also said 28,018 confirmed cases have been reported so far and 73 people have died in the last 24 hours.