DHAKA, – The government today declared that three more persons were infected with coronavirus (COVID-19), raising the number of corona patients to 17 in the country.
“We have detected three new coronavirus patients. Of the three, one is 22- year-old female and the other two are male of 32 and 65. All of them are from the same family…They got infected after coming into contact with a person, who has returned to the country from Italy recently,” Director General of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Abul Kalam Azad told newsmen at a press briefing at Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).
The DGHS chief made the announcement of three more persons’ infection a day after the country saw its first fatality of COVID-19, as a 70-year-old
male died of the deadly virus yesterday.
Replying to a question regarding personal protective equipment (PPE) supply of different hospital, he said, “We are supplying PPE to different
hospitals across the county phase by phase.”
“We cannot supply the kits for three months at a time but we are continuing to send the equipment on weekly or daily basis. Yesterday, we sent PPE
immediately to Rajshahi, after learning about the crisis there, while 500 PPE were sent to DMCH,” he said.
“I will not request anyone to attend a patient without their personal safety. But we have to remember that we have dedicated ourselves to serve
people,” the DGHS DG said.
“Some doctor, nurse and other health services providers are feeling scared and trying to avoid the patients” he said adding, “This is a national crisis
and we cannot refrain us from serving the people for the sake of nation.”
“This morning we have collected 10,000 more PPE from Central Medical Store Depot (CMSD)…Very soon we will collect one lakh kits and 10 lakh PPE and then there would be no crisis of PPE anywhere,” said the DGHS chief. Prof Azad further reiterated his earlier comment on taking legal actions if people do not follow the safety guidelines over coronavirus.
“We have issued letters to deputy commissioners across the country in this regard….We have already started taking actions under the existing laws and stern action will be taken in the future,” he said.
If any person provides wrong information about COVID-19, he/she also can be punished under the ‘Communicable Disease Prevention, Control and Eradication Act 2018.
According to a section of the act, if anyone provides wrong information about any disease it will be considered as a crime and the individual can be
sentenced to maximum two months of imprisonment or fined Tk 25,000 or be given both the punishment simultaneously.
“All of us have some responsibilities from our respective position; we all have to fight against the virus. Home ministry is now involved in the matter
and stern action will be taken if anyone violates home quarantine rules or provide false information,” he added.
A total of 19 people have been kept in isolation while 43 are kept in institutional quarantine, Prof Azad added. In last 24 hours, 42 people visited IEDCR over coronavirus issue and the state-run disease monitoring wing tested 25 samples.
IEDCR has opened an e-mail [email protected] and facebook account– Iedcr, COVID-19 Control Room-where people can get their required information. From January 21 to March 18, IEDCR has received a total of 42,113 calls, of which 4,450 calls were made in the last 24-hour.
During the time, a total of 6, 31,538 passengers were screened at different ports. Of them, 3,11,823 were screened at three international airports. A
total of 8,285 people were screened at Chattogram and Mongla sea ports.
