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CoronaVirus in Bangladesh - Updates & Discussion

UN adviser: Bangladesh should extend holiday by another week to tackle Covid-19

Tribune Desk
  • Published at 07:08 pm March 30th, 2020

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File photo: Empty streets of Shapla Chattar, Dhaka on March 26, 2020 Syed Zakir Hossain/Dhaka Tribune


'The Covid-19 virus may survive on surfaces for several hours, but simple disinfectants can kill it'

A Bangladeshi-born UN public health specialist has said the nationwide holidays, due to expire on April 4, should be extended for at least one more week.

“Bangladesh is in a better situation compared to other countries in the neighborhood,” Professor Zahid Haque, a doctor by background, told BSS in an interview as he is currently working with healthcare officials in Bangladesh in view of coronavirus.

He however stressed that the shutdown ought to be extended for at least one more week as the next few days appeared to be very crucial in understanding the course of the pandemic in Bangladesh, reports BSS.

“The Covid-19 virus develops in five days while its symptoms are seen within 14 days highest . . . only thing which has to be primarily done is to keep the patient isolated,” he said.

Haque, also a UN adviser, said Covid-19 patients could be treated like patients of all other normal flu and urged all not to use any antibiotics and painkiller as the coronavirus is a viral disease.

He also said the nationwide 10-day holiday alongside troops deployment to enforce social distancing proved effective in preventing Covid-19 spread in Bangladesh.

Haque, a senior adviser of United Nations’ World Sports Alliance (WSA) for Asia Pacific Region, said the enforcement drive should create awareness among people instead of panic, while BNCC cadets and Rover Scouts could as well could be called in to spearhead the anti-Covid-19 campaign.

“Our message is – don’t panic as it is a very simple disease that can be contained if everyone follows government’s health guidelines,” he said.

Haque also reiterated a health advisory suggesting that “the coronavirus is not an airborne disease” but it is transmitted through direct contact with respiratory droplets of an infected person, generated through coughing and sneezing and touching the surfaces contaminated with the virus.

“The Covid-19 virus may survive on surfaces for several hours, but simple disinfectants can kill it,” he said.

Haque said the only one more Covid-19 was detected on Monday after two days of lull while the toll even has not increased after the virus claimed five lives, a scenario that reflected the effectiveness of the government steps declaring a 10-day holiday.

Bangladesh has so far confirmed five deaths and 49 infections from Covid-19, a new strain of coronavirus.

The fast spreading coronavirus, which was first reported in China's Wuhan, has infected 722,196 people and claimed 33,976 lives till 10am on Monday, according to worldometer.info.

Globally, a total of 151,766 infected people have also recovered from Covid-19, a pandemic announced by the World Health Organization (WHO).

https://www.dhakatribune.com/health...ed-for-at-least-one-more-week-says-un-adviser
 
"He also said the nationwide 10-day holiday alongside troops deployment to enforce social distancing proved effective in preventing Covid-19 spread in Bangladesh."


Excellent.:enjoy:

I think Hasina should listen to this guy's suggestion as he seems to be qualified to comment.

The hot conditions of BD are no doubt to Covid-19's dislike.
 
"He also said the nationwide 10-day holiday alongside troops deployment to enforce social distancing proved effective in preventing Covid-19 spread in Bangladesh."


Excellent.:enjoy:

I think Hasina should listen to this guy's suggestion as he seems to be qualified to comment.

The hot conditions of BD are no doubt to Covid-19's dislike.
Like Arab countries or countries like Pakistan and Central Asia, Bangladesh weather is not hot and dry, but is hot and humid. This humidity mixed with street dust causes many lungs diseases. Catching cold, coughing and fever are common during BD summer. I wonder, if this bad weather condition will not cause more rapid spreading of Coronavirus. Hoping for the best.

Villages are at least free of dust and are less humid than Dhaka itself because of low concentration of buildings and population. It is good to see people have left for the villages. The only people do not have village houses are the people of Old Dhaka. They do not have even relatives in the villages.
 
Like Arab countries or countries like Pakistan and Central Asia, Bangladesh weather is not hot and dry, but is hot and humid. This humidity mixed with street dust causes many lungs diseases. Catching cold, coughing and fever are common during BD summer. I wonder, if this bad weather condition will not cause more rapid spreading of Coronavirus. Hoping for the best.

Villages are at least free of dust and are less humid than Dhaka itself because of low concentration of buildings and population. It is good to see people have left for the villages. The only people do not have village houses are the people of Old Dhaka. They do not have even relatives in the villages.

No there is empirical evidence that Covid-19 hates hot and humid conditions.
Virus rapidly degrades in heat, sunlight and moisture.

Otherwise, why is BD not as badly affected like say Italy as it has massive economic links with China like the Italians?
 
No there is empirical evidence that Covid-19 hates hot and humid conditions.
Virus rapidly degrades in heat, sunlight and moisture.

Otherwise, why is BD not as badly affected like say Italy as it has massive economic links with China like the Italians?
The first part of your post may be true because I do not have proofs otherwise. But, BD is not Italy where people went for holidaying from many countries including China. In the case of BD, for now the disease has spread from people who have returned from Europe/Italy, Arab countries and China. So, the infection is under control.

If these patients are correctly identified and are kept isolated the disease can be contained. But, one Embassy official in Tokyo told me that many doctors in BD hospitals are not attending hospitals for fear of being infected.
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To know more about containing coronavirus Bangladesh style, please read the following news
account.
https://www.thedailystar.net/bangla/শীর্ষ-খবর/আগের-মতোই-জমজমাট-২৫০টি-হাট-141811

০৩:২৮ অপরাহ্ন, মার্চ ৩১, ২০২০ / সর্বশেষ সংশোধিত: ০৩:৩১ অপরাহ্ন, মার্চ ৩১, ২০২০
আগের মতোই জমজমাট ২৫০টি হাট
লালমনিরহাট ও কুড়িগ্রামে নিয়মিত বসছে ২৫০টি হাট। মানা হচ্ছে না সামাজিক দূরত্বের নির্দেশনা। ছবি: স্টার
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লালমনিরহাট ও কুড়িগ্রামে নিয়মিত বসছে ২৫০টি হাট। মানা হচ্ছে না সামাজিক দূরত্বের নির্দেশনা। ছবি: স্টার

এস দিলীপ রায়, লালমনিরহাট

করোনাভাইরাসের সংক্রমণ রোধে সরকারি-বেসরকারি প্রতিষ্ঠানে সাধারণ ছুটি ঘোষণা করা হয়েছে। সেই সঙ্গে জনসমাগম এড়িয়ে চলতে বলা হচ্ছে, সামাজিক দূরত্ব বজায় রাখার নির্দেশনা দিয়ে যাচ্ছে সরকারের রোগতত্ত্ব, রোগনিয়ন্ত্রণ ও গবেষণা প্রতিষ্ঠান (আইইডিসিআর)। এগুলোর তোয়াক্কা না করে লালমনিরহাট ও কুড়িগ্রামের নিয়মিত বসছে ২৫০টি হাট। তাতে ক্রেতা-বিক্রেতাদের উপস্থিতিও থাকছে চোখে পড়ার মতো।

গতকাল সোমবার বিকালে লালমনিরহাট সদর উপজেলার নয়ারহাট ঘুরে দেখা যায়, বিপুল সংখ্যক মানুষের সমাগম ঘটেছে হাটে। স্থানীয়রা জানান, স্বাভাবিক সময়ে এত মানুষের উপস্থিতি দেখা যায় না। শুধু নয়ারহাট নয়, লালমনিরহাট ও কুড়িগ্রাম জেলার ২৫০টি হাটের দৃশ্য একই রকম।

কুলাঘাট গ্রামের নয়ারহাটে এসেছেন কৃষক দেলোয়ার হোসেন (৫৮)। তিনি বলেন, ‘আমি এখন আর চায়ের দোকানে বসি না। আগে বসতাম, চা-পানি খেতাম। করোনা ভাইরাসের কারণে সব কিছু বন্ধ হয়েছে, কিন্তু হাট বন্ধ হয়নি। কারণ হাট হলো আমাদের জীবনযাপনের সঙ্গে জড়িত। হাটে এসে জিনিসপত্র বিক্রি করি, কিনি।’

বানিয়াদীঘি গ্রামের নজরুল ইসলাম (৫৩) বলেন, ‘সামাজিক দূরত্ব বজায় রাখার ব্যাপারে আমি জানি কিন্তু মানতে পারছি না। হাটে আসতে হয়, অনেক মানুষের ভিড় থাকে হাটে। ঘেঁষাঘেঁষি করি চলতে হয়। আল্লাহ ভরসা ছাড়া আর কোনো উপায় নেই।’

কুড়িগ্রামের ফুলবাড়ী উপজেলার বালারহাটে এসেছেন নাওডাঙ্গা গ্রামের নাদের আলী। তিনি বলেন, ‘আগের চেয়ে হাটে লোকজনের সমাগম বেশি হচ্ছে। সব দিকে দোকান-পাট বন্ধ থাকায় লোকজন হাটে ছুটছেন। আমিও হাটে আসতে বাধ্য হচ্ছি। কারণ হাটে না এলে পরিবারের প্রয়োজন মেটানো সম্ভব হচ্ছে না।’

লালমনিরহাট সদর উপজেলার ‍দুড়াকুটি হাটের ইজারাদার নুরুল ইসলাম বলেন, ‘যেহেতু হাট বন্ধ রাখতে কোনো নির্দেশনা পাওয়া যায়নি. তাই হাট চলছে আর লোকজনের সমাগমও ঘটছে। ইজারাদার হিসেবে হাটে আমি নিজেও সামাজিক দূরত্ব বজায় রাখতে পারি না।’

লালমনিরহাট জেলা সিভিল সার্জন ডা. নির্মলেন্দু রায় দ্য ডেইলি স্টারকে বলেন, হাটগুলোতে মানুষের সমাগম বেশি হচ্ছে। উপচে পড়া ভিড়। হাটগুলো এখন আশঙ্কার কারণ হয়ে দাঁড়িয়েছে। হাট থেকে খুব তাড়াতাড়ি করোনা ছড়িয়ে পড়তে পারে।

আদিতমারী উপজেলা নির্বাহী অফিসার মুহাম্মদ মনসুর উদ্দিন বলেন, আমরা চেষ্টা করছি হাটগুলোতে সামাজিক দূরত্ব বজায় রেখে যেন পণ্য বেচা-কেনা হয়। দৈনন্দিন চাহিদা মেটানোর জন্য মানুষ হাটগুলোতে ছুটছেন। অনেক হাটে গিয়ে সামাজিক দূরত্ব বজায় রাখতে মানুষজনকে বাধ্য করা হয়েছে। কিন্তু আমরা চলে এলে আবারো বিশৃঙ্খলা তৈরি হয়।’
 
https://www.thedailystar.net/city/n...-among-800-labourers-rickshaw-pullers-1888384

12:00 AM, April 01, 2020 / LAST MODIFIED: 12:24 AM, April 01, 2020
DSCC distributes food among 800 labourers, rickshaw-pullers

Mayor Sayeed Khokon during the food distribution programme yesterday. Photo: Star
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Mayor Sayeed Khokon during the food distribution programme yesterday. Photo: Star

Staff Correspondent

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) distributed necessary food items among 800 labourers and rickshaw-pullers yesterday as part of its efforts to help around 50,000 poor families who are out of work due to the ongoing shutdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

DSCC Mayor Sayeed Khokon handed over the food packets, which included rice, lentil, salt, potato, oil and soap, near the High Court area.

The mayor also urged city dwellers not to go outside unless necessary. "It's imperative that we follow rules and maintain social distancing," Khokon said.

He also said DSCC will continue their food distribution programme for the next 15 to 20 days. "We will provide food to 500 families in a ward and all the 75 wards under DSCC will be brought under the programme," he said. The mayor said they are providing a month's supply for now.

Khokon said there is a committee -- comprising zonal executive office, local councillor and elders in every ward -- which will take necessary steps so that those in need get the assistance.

On Saturday, DSCC started the distribution programme from Bahadur Shah Park. Khokon also handed over money to around 100 rickshaw-pullers and labourers on Friday.

"If any resident calls our hotline and informs us that they are facing a food crisis, our DSCC team will bring them food," the mayor assured.

BIWTA HANDS OUT FOOD

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) yesterday distributed essential commodities to labourers and boatmen at six points from Sadarghat to Shinnirtek.

BIWTA Joint Director AKM Arif Uddin said they handed over food packets to around 1,000 labourers and boatmen who are now out of work. The packets included 5kg rice, 1kg lentil, 1kg onion, 2kg potato, 1 litre soybean oil, one soap and two facemasks.

Arif said they distributed the items in a disciplined manner, following the direction of Directorate General of Health Services.
 
Holiday extended till April 11
Ahammad Foyez | Published: 11:22, Mar 31,2020 | Updated: 23:39, Mar 31,2020

https://www.newagebd.net/article/103482/holiday-extended-till-april-11

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Sheikh Hasina.

The government on Tuesday decided to extend the ongoing public holiday till April 9 to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus in Bangladesh.

Sheikh Hasina asked cabinet secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam to issue necessary instructions in this regard.

In a video conference from her official Ganabhaban residence, the PM addressed some cabinet members and all the divisional and deputy commissioners of the country.

She also said that there would be no outdoor programmes celebrating Pahela Baishakh — the Bengali New Year — on April 14 to avoid mass gatherings in the prevailing situation.

‘We have earlier announced a 10-day general holiday from March 26 [to April 4] and it might be extended till April 9,’ she said.

The holiday will practically be extended till April 11, making it a 17-day shutdown, as the coming weekend falls on April 10 and 11.

Holiday.jpg


Lawmakers and representatives of different local government bodies also joined the video conference alongside field-level government officials from across the country.

The prime minister said that the holiday might be extended to arrest the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the rural areas as many people had already gone to their village homes soon after the 10-day public holiday was announced.

‘We will have to take the [14-day] quarantine period into account so that this lethal virus can’t spread,’ she said, adding that the industries would remain outside the purview of the extended holiday.

The government has to relax some sectors on a limited scale during the countrywide shutdown, she added.

‘Scope will have to be created for the movement of some people,’ she said, adding that the movement of transports, therefore, might be allowed partially.

She said that the government would review the situation after the completion of 14 days (quarantine period).

‘Everything can’t be stopped. The essential things will go on,’ the PM said.

The government earlier on March 23 declared a 10-day nationwide holiday from March 26 to April 4 shutting down the government and private offices, except healthcare facilities and emergency services, to fight the spread of the coronavirus that has so far killed five people and infected 49 others in the country.

It asked people to stay at home, banning all social, political and religious gatherings, to ensure social distancing.

The prime minister warned against any sort of corruption and irregularities in distributing foods among the destitute people, particularly the day-labourers.

‘No corruption and irregularity in this regard will be tolerated. We will not spare anyone trying to get rich or wealthy capitalising on the bad time of the people,’ she added.

She has asked all to remain alert in the prevailing situation.

The PM also asked for preparing a separate list of the poor people who are out of the existing social safety network programmes, such as day labourers, rickshaw pullers, transport workers, tea vendors or tea-stall owners to reach essentials to them so that none remained hungry due to the shutdown.

She asked the authorities concerned to ensure that none was left out of the list, adding that the food distribution would have to be made in a coordinated way and it must be ensured that none could repeatedly get food aid.

She also asked the authorities concerned to ensure additional allocation of foods to meet the growing demand.

Sheikh Hasina urged all, particularly the affluent people, to join hands with the government to this end.

The prime minister asked all to digitally celebrate Pahela Baishakh without creating any mass gatherings in line with the government’s ‘stay-at-home’ guideline.

She said that there was no need for all to use personnel protection equipment, or PPE, except for the health workers, nurses and physicians who were entrusted to provide treatment to the people infected with the coronavirus.

She asked the authorities concerned to create awareness of the use of PPE.

Officials of the local administration informed the PM that there was no crisis of PPE at this moment.

She said that she would issue an instruction as to which establishments would remain open and which would not during the extended holiday.

Talking to Cox’s Bazar deputy commissioner, the prime minister instructed him to make sure that the restrictions were in place during the entry to and the exit from the Rohingya camps as it would be a disaster if camp inmates were infected with the coronavirus.

She asked agriculture minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque to work for increasing the food production as the virus-hit countries would face food crisis and Bangladesh would need to supply foods to them.

She also asked the local government ministry to take necessary steps to control mosquitoes immediately as it would be tough to face any possible dengue epidemic amid the coronavirus menace.

The prime minister said that she experienced buzzing of mosquitoes while going to bed last night (Monday night).

Information minister Hasan Mahmud, home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, local government, rural development and cooperatives minister M Tazul Islam and state minister for disaster management and relief M Enamur Rahman attended the video conference from the Secretariat.

PM’s principal secretary Ahmad Kaikaus moderated the conference while cabinet secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam along with senior secretaries and secretaries also joined the video conference from the Secretariat.
 
Free transport service for doctors, nurses launched

https://www.bssnews.net/?p=369568


DHAKA, April 1, 2020(BSS) – A free transport service for caregivers
including doctors and nurses began today to help medical service providers go
to hospitals in a fast and convenient way amid their fight against the COVID-
19 pandemic.

Number of buses and microbuses have been arranged to pick up doctors and
nurses from their homes and drop off at hospitals in three shifts at 8 am, 2
pm and 8 pm in a day in the capital, a press release said here.

Apart from the scheduled shuttle services, transport will also be provided
for the doctors and nurses in case of emergency calls within the capital.

So far more than 250 doctors and caregivers have registered to get the
services, the release said.

The service was named as ‘Crack Platoon Transport Service’ being inspired
by the famous guerrilla unit named ‘Crack Platoon’ that had conducted a
number of heroic commando operation in Dhaka during the country’s Great War
of Liberation in 1971.

Under the supervision of Health Directorate, a non-government organization
named ‘The Earth Society’ and a vehicle IT solution firm ‘Bondstein
Technologies’ have jointly took the initiative with support of DBL
Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and Dhaka Hub of Global Shapers with Collaboration of
Combating Corona.

Health Directorate Director General Professor Dr. Abul Kalam Azad and
Senior Vice-President of Swadhinata Chikitshok Parishad Dr. Md. Jamal Uddin
Chowdhury formally inaugurated the transport service on Tuesday afternoon.

Managing director of DBL Group MA Jabbar, The Earth Society co-founder Md.
Sadequl Arefin and executive director Md Mia and Bondstein Technologies
director Zafir Shafiq Chowdhury were also present.

Any doctor or caregiver can register through the website –
bit.ly/crackplatoontransport or call the hotline number – 09639595959 to
avail the free transport services.
 

Al Jazeera is reporting that 40+ people have died in Bangladesh over the last 9 days with corona virus symptoms and there is a 14% increase in respiratory illnesses in Bangladesh compared with last year.
 
Bangladesh coronavirus test rate lowest in world
Kohinur Khyum Tithila
  • Published at 09:55 am April 1st, 2020

Other coronavirus affected countries are conducting thousands of tests per day

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Bangladesh has been testing an alarmingly low number of suspects considering its high population.

Only one suspected case is being tested for approximately 100,499 people in Bangladesh, shows Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control, and Research (IEDCR) data.

However, experts warned that the pandemic cannot be stopped if not enough Covid-19 tests are conducted, especially since it won’t present a clear picture of the situation.

While Bangladesh tests 10 samples per million population, many countries are testing hundreds of Covid-19 samples per million population, some thousands, and some even 10,000 per million.

On March 16, WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, at a press briefing, said: “You cannot fight a fire blindfolded. And we cannot stop this pandemic if we don’t know who is infected. We have a simple message for all countries: test, test, test. Test every suspected case.”

However, the data provided by Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control, and Research (IEDCR), shows Bangladesh has tested 1,602 samples from suspected Covid-19 patients against a total population of over 161 million.

This is about 67 tests a day since regular testing began on March 8, after the first three cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in the country.

The number is alarmingly low compared to the people in quarantine as well. A total of 60,015 people were quarantined in Bangladesh as of today.

Bangladesh’s neighbour India has also tested 11 in a million, a number close to Bangladesh. It tested 14,514 samples as of March 20. This is about one test for each 94,847 of its entire population.

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Pakistan tested 2,519 samples as of March 19. Which is one for each 87,260 people.

On the other hand, South Korea tested 395,194 samples as of 31 March.This country is testing one in every 130 people of its total population.

Meanwhile, the United States, the country which has the highest number of Covid-19 patients as of today, has tested 944,854 so far. About one test for every 350 people.

Russia has tested 143,519 samples as of March 19 (one in 1,017 people).

Italy, the country which has the second highest number of Covid-19 cases, tested 206,886 samples as of March 20, about one out of 292 people.

Germany has tested 167,000 samples from suspected Covid-19 patients as of March 15. This is about one for every 501 people of its entire population.

As of 30 March, a total of 134,946 people have been tested in the United Kingdom. This is about one test per 502 people of its population.

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangla...-100-000-tested-for-coronavirus-in-bangladesh
 
PATA forecasts TK 9,705 crore business loss in tourism sector


DHAKA, April 1, 2020 (BSS) – The PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) Bangladesh chapter has predicted that overall Bangladesh tourism sector will incur a loss of approximately Taka 9,705 crore of business till June 2020 due to outbreak of COVID 19 pandemic.

“We have estimated the turnover of entire tourism sector, including airliners and travel and Omrah hajj agents, from February to next June 2020… and as our total business is now shut down, we are going to lose the entire business of Taka 9,705 crore,” Secretary General of PATA Bangladesh Chapter Taufiq Rahman told BSS this evening.

Bangladesh PATA chapter and PATA global executive board member Shahid Hamid submitted a report that calculated estimated cost of losing business by the Bangladesh tourism sector to State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Mahbub Ali at secretariat here.

The amount was estimated by the turnover of different segments of the tourism sector, including airlines, inbound and outbound tour operators, hotels, motels, restaurants, travel agents, umrah agents and transports directly involved in the tourism sector.

“We have only estimated the business losses from the private sector … We didn’t include government owned Biman Bangladesh Airlines and outlets of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporations (BPC) and outlets of other concerned sectors,” Toufiq said.

The PATA also forecasted job cut of more than three lakh employees of the sector as dire consequences of COVID-19.

He said different associations, including Aviation Operators Association of Bangladesh (AOAB), Tour Operator Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), Association of Travel Agencies of Bangladesh (ATAB) and Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) validated the business losses from their respective sectors.

PATA Bangladesh chapter also urged the government to allocate taka 1000 crore for hotels, motels, resorts, restaurants, tour operators, tourist vehicles and vessels and private airlines as well as make a provision of providing Taka 2000 crore as interest free loan as a loss recovery package for the tourism sector.

It also requested to waive the utility bills until resumption of operation.

On March 13, the World Travel and Tourism Council said that up to 50 million jobs in the global travel and tourism sector are at risk due to the global COVID-19 outbreak.

The Bangladesh government has already formed a 14-member tourism crisis management committee headed by the Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) CEO to find the kind of incentives the tourism stakeholders need to tackle the crisis.

To contain the outbreak, both international and local airlines have cut almost all flights to and from Bangladesh to many destinations worldwide, including India, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and India.

Bangladesh also forced to imposed a ban on all travelers from Europe except the UK, till April 7 which is also applicable for other nations that restricted Bangladeshis entry to their territories over the coronavirus.

The government suspended visa-on-arrival facilities for all nationals to enter Bangladesh to prevent the killer bugs outbreak here.

https://www.bssnews.net/?p=369876
 
https://www.thedailystar.net/city/coronavirus-fears-in-bangladesh-327-japanese-leave-dhaka-1888789

10:50 AM, April 02, 2020 / LAST MODIFIED: 10:59 AM, April 02, 2020
Fears over coronavirus: 327 Japanese leave Dhaka

The parking area of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is usually full of cars and hundreds of people waiting for passengers. However, for the last few days, the airport has been devoid of activity as the country and its ports have restricted travel to combat coronavirus outbreak. Photo: Palash Khan/Star/File
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The parking area of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is usually full of cars and hundreds of people waiting for passengers. However, for the last few days, the airport has been devoid of activity as the country and its ports have restricted travel to combat coronavirus outbreak. Photo: Palash Khan/Star/File

Star Online Report

A total of 327 Japanese citizens left Dhaka this morning on a special flight arranged by the Japanese government for those who opted to return home amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The 400-seat chartered flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines set off for Japan at around 10:00 am, said Mokabbir Hossain, managing director and chief executive of Biman Bangladesh.

In the last seven days, around 633 foreigners have left Bangladesh.

Of them, 269 were US citizens, 225 from Malaysia and 139 from Bhutan, said sources at Dhaka airport.
 
"He also said the nationwide 10-day holiday alongside troops deployment to enforce social distancing proved effective in preventing Covid-19 spread in Bangladesh."


Excellent.

I think Hasina should listen to this guy's suggestion as he seems to be qualified to comment.

The hot conditions of BD are no doubt to Covid-19's dislike.
Ok sea diver....:enjoy:
 
Bangladesh coronavirus test rate lowest in world
Kohinur Khyum Tithila
  • Published at 09:55 am April 1st, 2020

Other coronavirus affected countries are conducting thousands of tests per day

covid-19-per-million-info-1585715511338.jpg


Bangladesh has been testing an alarmingly low number of suspects considering its high population.

Only one suspected case is being tested for approximately 100,499 people in Bangladesh, shows Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control, and Research (IEDCR) data.

However, experts warned that the pandemic cannot be stopped if not enough Covid-19 tests are conducted, especially since it won’t present a clear picture of the situation.

While Bangladesh tests 10 samples per million population, many countries are testing hundreds of Covid-19 samples per million population, some thousands, and some even 10,000 per million.

On March 16, WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, at a press briefing, said: “You cannot fight a fire blindfolded. And we cannot stop this pandemic if we don’t know who is infected. We have a simple message for all countries: test, test, test. Test every suspected case.”

However, the data provided by Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control, and Research (IEDCR), shows Bangladesh has tested 1,602 samples from suspected Covid-19 patients against a total population of over 161 million.

This is about 67 tests a day since regular testing began on March 8, after the first three cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in the country.

The number is alarmingly low compared to the people in quarantine as well. A total of 60,015 people were quarantined in Bangladesh as of today.

Bangladesh’s neighbour India has also tested 11 in a million, a number close to Bangladesh. It tested 14,514 samples as of March 20. This is about one test for each 94,847 of its entire population.

per-million-table-1585744092301.jpg


Pakistan tested 2,519 samples as of March 19. Which is one for each 87,260 people.

On the other hand, South Korea tested 395,194 samples as of 31 March.This country is testing one in every 130 people of its total population.

Meanwhile, the United States, the country which has the highest number of Covid-19 patients as of today, has tested 944,854 so far. About one test for every 350 people.

Russia has tested 143,519 samples as of March 19 (one in 1,017 people).

Italy, the country which has the second highest number of Covid-19 cases, tested 206,886 samples as of March 20, about one out of 292 people.

Germany has tested 167,000 samples from suspected Covid-19 patients as of March 15. This is about one for every 501 people of its entire population.

As of 30 March, a total of 134,946 people have been tested in the United Kingdom. This is about one test per 502 people of its population.

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangla...-100-000-tested-for-coronavirus-in-bangladesh
Where is Pakistan?
 
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