coronavirus
Biman to stay grounded till Apr 30
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (Caab) on Saturday extended the suspension of all international and domestic flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines till April 30 as part of the government’s overall efforts to mitigate the effects of novel coronavirus and its spread in the country.
The suspension will be effective for 16 international countries including Bahrain, Bhutan, Hong Kong, India, Kuwait, Malaysia, the Maldives, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, the UAE and the UK, said a Caab press release on Saturday.
Iranian president urges efforts to make COVID-19 vaccine
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday called on the health institutions of the country to step up efforts to produce novel coronavirus vaccine.
Some 5,000 Thai nationals overseas yet to be returned home
Some 5,000 Thai nationals overseas are yet to be returned to Thailand in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, said a senior government official on Saturday.
Coronavirus: Court holiday also extended until Apr 25
The Supreme Court on Saturday has extended the holiday for courts until April 25.
Public transport services suspended until Apr 25
Public transport services will remain suspended until April 25 in line with the extended general holidays.
The government took the decision to prevent the further transmission of novel coronavirus in the country, a handout from Roads and Highways Division said on Saturday.
However, important services, including food supplies, daily commodities, fuel, medicines, transport-related to medicines, agriculture goods, fertilisers, fisheries, animal and livestock, baby foods, and essential items will continue as usual.
The government declared general holidays from March 26 and suspended mass transport to tackle coronavirus outbreak. It shut down educational institutions, banned gatherings, imposed a restriction on movement and urged people to stay indoors to help the country fight the deadly virus.
Ensure TV journalists’ health security, pay dues, salaries: Minister
Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Saturday urged journalist leaders and television managing committees to ensure health security and pay dues for those working at private channels.
Indian researchers develop antimicrobial face-shield, hands-free object to fight COVID-19
The "National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)", situated in India's north-eastern state of Assam, has come out with two innovative products to help the country fight COVID-19, said the Ministry of Science and Technology in a statement Saturday.
5 die with cold, fever, respiratory problems in five districts
At least five people, including a child, suffering from cold, fever, cough and respiratory problems died in Faridpur, Khulna, Brahmanbaria, Laxmipur, and Bhola between Friday night and Saturday morning.
In Khulna, a six-month-old baby suffering from cold, fever, cough and pneumonia died at the Isolation Unit of Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) in the morning.
KMCH Corona Unit Doctor Shailendranath Biswas said the baby died around 1am.
His samples have been collected for coronavirus test.
The baby from the city’s Khalispur was hospitalised around 3pm and later transferred to the Isolation Unit, he added.
In Brahmanbaria, a woman suffering from fever, cold and breathing problem died at the district town in the morning.
The deceased was identified as Muna Begum, 35, wife of Bashir Ahmed.
She had been suffering from fever from March 31. After she was taken to Brahmanbaria Sadar Hospital, doctors referred her to Dhaka.
But Muna did not agree to go Dhaka and was undergoing treatment at home, said Bashir. She died around 7am, he said adding that doctors have collected her samples for testing.
In Laxmipur, a 55-year-old man suffering from fever died at Charfolkon Jajira of Kamalnagar upazila on Friday night.
Civil Surgeon Abdul Gaffar said four houses were put under lockdown after the man died around 11:30pm.
His sample has been sent to Chattogram for coronavirus test, he added.
In Faridpur, a day labourer suffering from fever died in Madhukhali upazila.
The deceased was identified as Abdus Salam Mondol, 48, a resident of Khajura of Jashore.
Aminur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Madhukhali Police Station, said Salam was coming to the hospital but the van driver left him on the way fearing coronavirus infection.
He was later taken to Faridpur Medical College Hospital (FMCH) on Friday night but he was already dead, said Dr Md Jewel of the emergency ward.
They have collected samples of the deceased and sent to IEDCR for testing, the doctor added.
In Bhola, a man with fever and breathing problems died at Charumed in Lalmohan upazila on Friday night.
After the death of Abul Kalam, 50, two villages were locked down, said Dr Mohsin Khan, resident medical officer of Lalmohan Health Complex.
He said the wife of Kalam’s elder son, who is a garment worker, returned from Dhaka seven days ago.
Kalam had been suffering from fever, diarrhoea and breathing complications for the last five days, the RMO said, adding that he was taken to the upazila health complex on Friday noon as his condition deteriorated.
He was later referred to Sadar Hospital but he died before he could be taken there.
However, Kalam was buried without informing the administration and hospital authorities.
Kalam’s samples that were collected before his death at Lalmohan Health Complex will be sent to Barishal on Saturday for test, said the RMO.
Current coronavirus situation
Coronavirus, first reported in China in December last year, has infected more than 1.7 million around the world.
The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus crisis a pandemic on March 11.
Until Saturday, the virus has killed more than 100,000 people. Currently, 1,221,285 people are being treated with 49,835 in serious or critical condition.
Bangladesh on Saturday reported three more deaths from coronavirus and 58 new cases.
The country has so far confirmed 482 cases and 30 deaths.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque said Dhaka’s Mirpur, Basabo and Narayangaj have so far been the most infected regions of the country.
COVID-19 cases rise to 10,505 in Israel
The number of novel coronavirus cases in Israel has risen to 10,505, the Israeli Ministry of Health said Saturday.
47 Independent TV staff complete quarantine
Forty-seven employees of Independent TV, who had been in isolation, completed the quarantine period and are now ready to get back to work.
They were sent to home-quarantine on April 3 after one of their colleagues tested positive for coronavirus.
Besides, the journalist who was diagnosed with COVID-19 is also doing well.
"Very happy to inform you that all the 47 colleagues of Independent TV, who had been in isolation, completed the quarantined period on April 9, 2020. They are all in sound health and are not showing any symptom of COVID-19,” its CEO and Editor-in-Chief M Shamsur Rahman said in a message.
As per IEDCR, the staff can resume office.
“But to be on the safer side, we have decided to wait for another couple of days before asking them to rejoin office,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said their colleague, who is infected with coronavirus, is still in institutional quarantine.
“He does not have fever anymore or sore throat. He only has a mild dry cough. We are all praying for his speedy recovery.”