ZCZC
BSS-28
MALEQUE-PRESS-CONFERENCE
Coronavirus situation not serious now to close educational institutions:
Maleque
DHAKA, March 9, 2020 (BSS) – Educational institutions will not be shut down
now as the coronavirus situation is still under control, Health and Family
Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque said today.
“There is no such situation prevailing in the country that can lead to
shutting down educational institutions due to detection of coronavirus,” he
told a meeting of the national committee formed over prevention of novel
coronavirus at the ministry conference room here.
Schools and colleges will run normally, he said, adding as part of
precautionary measures, hand sanitizers will be used at educational
institutions. The minister urged people not to become panicked and remain
alert so that none can spread any rumor over the coronavirus.
Maleque said the government has taken preventive measures from January,
while two more scanners have been set up increasing the total number of
scanners to six.
As part of awareness programme, three committees — national, district
level and upazila level — have been formed to contain the spread of
coronavirus in our country. “We remained alert so that the virus could not
spread in our country,” he added.
He said after the detection of coronavirus cases in the country on Sunday,
the prime minister has given directives to prevent the spread of the deadly
virus.
About the arrival of Bangladeshi expatriates back home, the minister urged
the expatriates not to return home without any urgency.
“If you need to come, you will have to be self-quarantined. If required,
you can communicate with us. Our medical team will perform necessary check-
up,” he said.
The minister said home comers — especially from Italy and South Korea —
will be put under special supervision and if required, they will be kept
quarantined.
He said 400-bed units and medical equipment have been kept ready to face
the new coronavirus while the doctors and nurses also remain prepared to
tackle any situation. Large number of protective gloves has been preserved
for their (doctors) use.
Maleque said special monitoring will be carried out to check the price
hiking of masks and other things.
Cautionary leaflets will be distributed while posters and banners will be
hanged across the country.
He said directives have been given to curtail public gathering or
functions.
The health minister said only China returnees underwent screening through
digital thermometers between January 21 and February 7 but from after
February 7 to till now all home returnees are being screened.
Over five lakh passengers and staffs of concerned flights have so far been
screened, he said.
He said a total of 120 persons in suspicion of COVID-19 have undergone
medical tests and of them, three persons have been detected with the virus
and are undergoing treatment.
Maleque said at present 48 persons, who came in close contact with an
individual infected with coronavirus, have been kept quarantined in a house.
One person has been quarantined in hospital and two have been kept in
isolation, he said adding that a total of 4,932 calls have been made so far
in the hotlines for COVID-19 of the Health Ministry.
BSS/BKD/MKD/ARS/2045 hrs