2 new Coronavirus patients detected in Bangladesh: Health Minister

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Two new coronavirus-infected patients have been detected in Bangladesh, UNB reports.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque disclosed the information at a press briefing at State guesthouse Padma on Saturday night.

The newly-affected coronavirus patients are thought to have come from Europe. But, the Health Minister did not disclose further details of the new coronavirus patients.

The government said flight operations between Bangladesh and different European countries and other coronavirus-hit areas will remain suspended from 12 am on Sunday till March 31. However, the suspension will not be applicable for the UK, said Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen at the press briefing.

Among the five infected patients, four came from abroad while one got infected for staying with them, he said.

People wear face masks as a precaution after detection of coronavirus patients in Bangladesh. Photo: UNB

However, the government has suspended on arrival-visas for all countries for two weeks from tomorrow (Sunday), said the minister.

Earlier, three coronavirus patients were detected in the country and two of them have recovered by the time.

Director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) Prof Meerjady Sabrina Flora at a media briefing on Saturday morning said two out of three patients have already recovered and another underwent a test within the last 24 hours and the result came out negative.

“Another test will be carried out in the next 24 hours. If that comes out negative we’ll then be able to release the patient,” she said.

Meanwhile, 142 Bangladeshis returned from Italy, the worst-hit country in Europe, in the morning.

Dr Flora said they have been tested and no-one of them showed any symptom of coronavirus infection.