coronavirus
Govt puts best efforts to help foreign citizens in Bangladesh: MoFA
The government of Bangladesh has put in its best efforts to help out the foreign citizens and permanent residents (PRs) stranded in Bangladesh, says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The government said it remains committed to providing adequate health facilities and support to the foreign citizens and PRs living inside the country, particularly the diplomats and their families.
The government has extended its wholehearted cooperation to the foreign missions in Dhaka who sought assistance to take their citizens and PRs keen to stand by their family members during this crisis period, according to MoFA.
So far the government has facilitated six special flights including two flights to the USA consisting of over 900 passengers.
Most of them being regular visitors arriving in Bangladesh before the COVID-19 outbreak got stranded as the regular flight operations were suspended, said the MoFA.
As they started to contact the embassies and requested for the repatriation, embassies undertook measures in collaboration with the government to arrange charter flights.
About 85 percent of USA-bound passengers are Bangladeshi-born US citizens and PRs who travel to reunite with their families and accompany them during the time when they need them most, said the Ministry.
A significant number of PRs had to travel back to the USA before the deadline period, a legal obligation that needs to be obliged by all PRs, it said.
A large number of Japanese and Russians who have left and are in the process of leaving were engaged in different projects which are currently not in operation.
So these experts and consultants have decided to join their families as currently they do not have much work.
As soon as the situation normalizes, all of them are expected to return, MoFA said.
Among other cases, a good number of foreign students studying in Bangladesh have flown back and are in the process of leaving Bangladesh as all the educational institutions are presently closed, it said.
Spain sees continued fall in new coronavirus cases and deaths
The number of new cases of the coronavirus infection and new deaths continued to fall in Spain, according to the daily data published by the Spanish Ministry for Health, Consumer Affairs and Social Services on Sunday.
2 buildings, one tin-shed house under lockdown in Mirpur
Two multistoried buildings and a tin-shed house in Mirpur-1 area were put under lockdown on Sunday after two members of a family were found positive for coronavirus.
Mostafizur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Mirpur Police station, said two members of a family, living in the area near Mirpur-1 over bridge got infected with coronavirus.
The authorities concerned from the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) took them from their house in the morning.
Later, the law enforcers went to the spot and put the two buildings with 18-20 families and the tin-shed house in the area under lockdown.
Another person died from coronavirus and 18 more people tested positive for the virus during the last 24 hours, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Sunday.
“Death toll from the virus infection is now nine. Eighteen more people were tested positive for coronavirus in the last 24hours, raising the number of cases to 88,” he said in an online briefing.
141 Bangladeshis return from India through Benapole in 3 days
One hundred forty one Bangladeshi nationals, who got stuck in West Bengal in India, returned home through Benapole check-post under special arrangement in the last three days.
Dr Habibur Rahman, health officer of Benapole check-post, said the Bangladeshi nationals came through Benapole check-post on Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning.
Of them, 81 people came to the country on Friday, 35 on Saturday and 25 on Sunday morning.
Besides, five people who returned home on Saturday were sent to isolation unit in Sharsha Upazila Health Complex as their body temperature was found high.
The Bangladeshi nationals remained stranded in Kolkata since March 26 following the suspension of the suspension of travelers movement though landports.
Ghana's confirmed COVID-19 cases rise to 214
Ghana recorded nine new cases late Saturday to take its confirmed COVID-19 cases to 214, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has said.
Chinese medical experts share knowledge of effective drugs against COVID-19 with U.S. doctors
During a two-day online conference earlier this week jointly sponsored by the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) and the Chinese Association of Chest Physicians, the Chinese physicians and scientists shared some important findings with their U.S. counterparts.
Don’t leave or enter Dhaka until further notice: Police HQ
The Police Headquarters on Sunday said nobody will be allowed either to leave and enter the capital city until further notice.
“Other than emergency services, we won’t allow anyone either to enter Dhaka or leave it until further notice from the government,” said Md Sohel Rana, assistant inspector general (AIG-Media) of the Police Headquarters.
Bangladesh Police has been working to ensure social distancing and stay-at-home rules as per the government directive, he added.
Other than the emergency services as required for the smooth living of the citizens, all types of individual and group movement are prohibited, said AIG Sohel adding, “We’re working to ensure that.”
The Bangladesh Police sought cooperation of all concerned and citizens for proper implementation of the government directives and health instructions to this end.
Bangladesh on Sunday reported 18 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours which is double from Saturday’s. The total number of infection cases in the country is now 88.
The country also confirmed another death, taking the total number to nine.
The global death toll from novel coronavirus (COVID-19) hit 64,716 till Sunday.
The virus, first reported in China, has so far infected 1,201,933 people around the world, according to worldometer.
The infected 890,583 people are currently being treated while 42,290 of them in serious or critical condition.
So far, 246,634 of those infected have recovered.
ICRC, govt jointly working to protect detainees from COVID-19
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Bangladesh has joined hands together with the Prison Directorate and the Ministry of Home Affairs to enhance the preparedness of the 68 prisons across the country to prevent the transmission of coronavirus.
It has also started implementing infection prevention control measures to tackle the spread of coronavirus in the prisons, ICRC said on Sunday.
The first batch of such materials was handed over to the prison authorities on Thursday at the country’s central prison in Keraniganj.
Detention facilities in general are particularly vulnerable when it comes to preventing and containing infectious diseases, said the ICRC.
An outbreak of COVID-19 in a prison could have devastating effects on the population, especially in an overcrowded prison where the health care system is weakened.
One case can quickly spread amongst the prison population, affecting both detainees and prison staff alike, according to ICRC.
Simona Cervi, ICRC Bangladesh Detention team leader said they aim to support the prison authorities with recommendations on how to improve the response of coronavirus, and direct support to ensure that a comprehensive response to face the outbreak is put in place, in line with the ICRC guidelines and National Preparedness and Response Plan for COVID-19 in Bangladesh.
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) would be adopted in the prisons both for the primary medical response while ensuring and enforcing compliance with Infection Control and Prevention and hygiene promotion, said ICRC.
Additionally, the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) volunteers would be involved in training the key staff of the prisons; and the newly trained staff would pass on the information to other employees, the detainees and the visitors.
It is expected that every jail would be capable of autonomously putting in place the COVID-19 response measures as agreed with the authorities, according to ICRC.
The Inspector General (IG) of Prisons Brigadier General AKM Mustafa Kamal Pasha welcomed ICRC's assistance in preventing infections relating to COVID-19 and said they look forward to ICRC’s continued support and cooperation for prisoners' health care in future as well.
The ICRC has been working with the government of Bangladesh to improve the conditions and treatment afforded to detainees in prisons since 2014.
The ICRC said they are continuously working to strengthen the overall prison health system through activities such as improving access to health care for inmates.
4-5 countries reach out Dhaka to send back undocumented nationals: FM
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday said four to five countries including the Maldives have reached out Bangladesh to take back its undocumented nationals from their respective countries.
He said the government will take steps case by case considering the ground reality.
Dr Momen said though the number of countries which came up with the request is few but it is pressure on the government at this critical moment for the whole world due to coronavirus.
"We are under pressure to some extent. All the countries are under pressure," he told reporters.
Dr Momen hoped that Bangladesh will not be in big trouble considering the relations that Bangladesh maintains with those countries and the steps are being taken to further strengthen the relations with them.
He said the Foreign Minister of the Maldives had a phone conversation with him conveying that the situation about the undocumented Bangladesh nationals.
The Maldives Foreign Minister highlighted the downfall of tourism business and closure of restaurants there and assured the Bangladesh Foreign Minister of taking well care of the documented nationals.
The Maldives initially urged the undocumented nationals to get registered. "We don't think all will return," he told reporters.
Dr Momen did not want to mention the names of other countries and total number of undocumented nationals in those four to five countries at this moment.
Responding to a question, the Foreign Minister said they have already written to various countries thanking for the initiatives taken so far to fight COVID-19 and extending supports to Bangladesh missions abroad and helping Bangladesh nationals abroad.
Bangladesh also shared the economic situation of the country due to coronavirus with foreign countries, he said.
"We will face the challenges together. I must say each country is sympathetic to us," Dr Momen said.
Earlier, the Foreign Minister had meeting with
Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad and discussed ways to deal with the situation.
Govt declares April 12,13 general holidays
The government on Sunday declared April 12 and 13 as general holidays, aiming to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The Public Administration Ministry issued a notification in this regard on Sunday,.
Besides, April 14, the first day of Bengali New Year, will be added with the holidays, it said.
On March 23, the government declared general holidays from March 26 to April 4, aiming to prevent the transmission of deadly coronavirus and then extended the holidays until April 9
But kitchen markets, food shops, pharmacies, hospitals and all emergency services will remain out of the purview of the general holidays.
Another person died from coronavirus and 18 more people tested positive for the virus during the last 24 hours, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Sunday.
“Death toll from the virus infection is now nine. Eighteen more people were tested positive for coronavirus in the last 24hours, raising the number of cases to 88,” he said in an online briefing.