In the wake of the global COVID-19 crisis, the health and family planning minister has said that passengers arriving from Singapore would be scanned seriously at all ports.
“Many people are coming from Singapore. I have ordered the authorities to thoroughly scan them,” Zahid Maleque said, inaugurating a medical camp for journalists at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity premises on Wednesday.
“Two Bangladeshis got infected by the novel coronavirus in Singapore … Treatment in Singapore is very good. I hope they receive proper treatment,” he said.
“There are many Bangladeshis in Singapore. I hope no more Bangladeshis are infected by this virus,” he added.
The minister said no sign of the coronavirus has been detected in Wuhan returnees quarantined at the Ashkona Hajj camp. “They will go home fourteen days from the day of their arrival.”
He added: “Do not be afraid. We are prepared enough to prevent the coronavirus from entering Bangladesh. Adequate medical facilities are ready to fight against the coronavirus if it enters the country.”
Recently two Bangladeshi nationals were infected with COVID-19 in Singapore, according to the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Singapore.
The first Bangladeshi man was confirmed to have the coronavirus on Saturday. Another Bangladeshi worker was infected on Tuesday.
None of them had any recent travel history to China.
China returnee admitted to Rangpur hospital
A Bangladeshi student at a Chinese university who recently returned to Bangladesh was admitted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital (RMCH) over coronavirus fears.
Taufiq Kader, 20, of Fulbari upazila in Dinajpur was admitted to the corona unit of the hospital.
RMCH corona unit spokesperson, Dr Narayan Chandra, confirmed the matter.
Hospital sources said Taufiq returned from China three days ago. On Tuesday, he fell ill with chest pain, cold, and fever. When he was brought to the hospital’s emergency unit the next day when his condition deteriorated, he was directly admitted to the corona unit.
While he is undergoing treatment, his saliva and blood has been sent to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), said Dr Chandra, Assistant Professor of Medicine at RMCH.
Earlier, two more China returnee students were admitted to RMCH over coronavirus fears. One was cleared by IEDCR and another was still awaiting results at the time of filing this report.
On Wednesday, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, Md Mahbub Ali, said Bangladesh has nothing to worry about as the coronavirus automatically goes inactive between 32°C and 35°C and the country’s temperature will rise above 32°C within days. However, the IEDCR refuted the claim.
IEDCR Director Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora said the novel coronavirus remains active till 70°C.
Meanwhile, after remaining stranded for a couple of days in a ship brought in for dismantlement, the 17 Chinese sailors left Bangladesh for Thailand at 10am on Wednesday.
Dr Motahar Hossain, port health officer of Chittagong, said the Chinese sailors were tested for coronavirus but the results were negative.
The number of fatalities from China's new coronavirus epidemic jumped to 1,113 nationwide on Wednesday, after another 97 deaths were reported by AFP, citing the National Health Commission of China.
The figure is only the second time there has been a decline in the daily death toll and follows Tuesday's data showing 108 new fatalities.
More than 44,600 people have been confirmed as infected by the pathogen across China.
Meanwhile, according to IEDCR’s press release on Wednesday, none were infected by the virus in the country.
On February 1, Bangladesh repatriated 316 people from China and quarantined them in Ashkona Hajj Camp in Dhaka. They are scheduled to be released tomorrow.
Meanwhile, 11 people under examination at the Combined Military Hospital did not show any symptoms, said IEDCR.
Our correspondents Mehedi Al Amin, Shohel Mamun, Liakat Ali Badal, Rangpur and Anwar Hussain, Chittagong contributed to this report