New Corona infections in Bangladesh : 11 instructions from DGHS

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has issued 11 public health instructions to prevent another potential COVID-19 outbreak in Bangladesh, following a spike in cases across several countries.

The announcement came at a press conference at the DGHS headquarters on Wednesday afternoon, where Director General Md Abu Zafar outlined the directives.

He said infections have been rising globally and several new sub-variants of the virus have been detected, prompting the authorities to take precautionary measures.

The DGHS has instructed all International Health Regulations (IHR) desks at land, sea, and air ports to step up monitoring and ensure compliance with safety protocols, especially for international arrivals.

“These directives aim to raise awareness and strengthen prevention at every level,” Zafar said.

What the public should do to stay protected:

1. Avoid public gatherings as much as possible. If unavoidable, wear a mask.

2. Use a mask to protect yourself from respiratory illnesses.

3. Cover your nose and mouth with your arm or a tissue when coughing or sneezing.

4. Dispose of used tissues immediately in a covered bin.

5. Wash hands frequently with soap and water or hand sanitiser for at least 20 seconds.

6. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unclean hands.

7. Keep at least three feet of distance from anyone showing symptoms and avoid direct contact.

If symptoms appear or someone is suspected to be infected:

1. Stay home if you have fever, cough, or breathing difficulty until fully recovered.

2. Ask the patient to wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth.

3. Caregivers should also wear masks while attending the patient.

4. If needed, contact the nearest hospital, or call Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) at 01401-196293 or the national health hotline at 16263.

Testing to resume in 6 government hospitals

In light of rising infections, the DGHS has announced it will resume Covid-19 testing-initially on a limited scale- at hospitals equipped with RT-PCR labs.

Prof Halimur Rashid confirmed the decision to Dhaka Tribune, saying: “Testing will begin at medical colleges and district hospitals that already have RT-PCR capabilities. We expect operations to be fully up and running within the next 10 days.”

Testing will initially resume at six key government hospitals, including Dhaka Medical College, Mugda General Hospital, and the medical colleges of Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal, Sylhet, and Mymensingh.