Staff Reporter :
Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) on Saturday warned that spreading of unnecessary panic about the coronavirus will hinder efforts to prevent the disease.
“Rumours should not be spread on coronavirus. Because it has serious bad impact,” said IEDCR Director Professor Meerjady Sabrina Flora at a press briefing.
Foreign nationals or Bangladesh returnees from abroad are being harassed regarding these issue, she said. “Overenthusiastic people are creating embarrassing situations. We were informed that house owners are not letting their tenants enter the houses. A Chinese national was not allowed to enter his rented house and had to spend the night in a hotel. It is not acceptable,” she said. Flora said, “If someone is really infected with the coronavirus, then keeping them outside will obviously spread the disease among the people.”
The IEDCR Director said, “We have said the China returnees should remain at home. We will put the entire country at risk by not allowing them to enter their apartments. Now, if anyone has the symptoms of the disease, they will conceal it fearing the social stigma.”
She said that 77 people were checked for coronavirus infections in Bangladesh but none of them tested positive. The Director said that the conditions of the five Bangladeshi nationals infected with the coronavirus in Singapore remain the same. One of them is in critical condition, but the health authorities still hope for his recovery.
Besides, Another Bangladeshi has been infected with the novel coronavirus in the United Arab Emirates, the health ministry of UAE said.
