ZCZC
BSS-32
CHINA-RETURNEE-HOSPITALIZE
8 hospitalized after returning from China
DHAKA, Feb 1, 2020 (BSS) – Eight of the total 312 returnees from the Coronavirus-hit Chinese city have been taken to hospitals for observation while rest of them were sent to Ashkona Hajj Camp directly from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in a special bus.
“The returnees are not so sick. But we have taken seven to the city’s Kurmitola General Hospital and one to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) for medical observation,” Virus Control Room head and Principal Scientific Officer of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) S M Alamgir told BSS.
The medical tests of the eight returnees are underway which would take around 48 hours, he said.
The health ministry, IEDCR and Bangladesh Army are overseeing the matter.
Earlier, the Biman Bangladesh Airlines special flight carrying 312 Bangladeshis landed at HSIA in the city at 11.53am from Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of deadly coronavirus.
The authorities shifted 312 Bangaldeshis-297 are adult, 12 are children and 3 are infants-to Ashkona Hajj Camp directly from the airport for keeping them quarantine for next 14 days.
The special flight with 15 crew members and four physicians departed HSIA for Wuhan around 6pm on Friday.
BSS/SAH/KU/1921 HRS