Staff Reporter :
Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Thursday said the government will lock down the most vulnerable areas of the country, such as Madaripur and Faridpur — if the coronavirus outbreak worsens.
The Bishwa Ijtema field of Tongi will be used for the necessary treatment under the supervision of Bangladesh Army, the minister said.
The minister told the reporters about the current coronavirus situation in the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) in Mohakhali this afternoon.
Over 5,000 people across the country were tested in the last 24 hours on suspicion of coronavirus infection, the minister said, adding that the government is trying to collect more than one lakh testing kits for coronavirus detection.
The minister has said that the governments has already identified several hospitals in Dhaka to treat coronavirus patients and are also preparing 2,000 beds to mitigate the crisis.
“If the situations worsen, we will quarantine people and provide them necessary treatment at Ijtema grounds which will remain under the supervision of Bangladesh Army,” he informed.
He urged expats not to come to Bangladesh for the time being, considering the greater interest of the country and their family members and asked people to abide by directions of IEDCR.
The minister also urged journalists not to publish exaggerated reports on coronavirus because it may create panic among people. The minister said that in order to prevent Corona, the leave of all officials of the health department has been canceled.
