Bangladesh Issues Alert Over COVID; Urges Caution for India

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has issued precautionary measures in response to a surge in cases of new sub-variants of COVID-19 in several neighbouring countries, including India.

These instructions were issued on Monday in a notice signed by Dr Halimur Rashid, director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) of the DGHS.

The notice said that cases of new coronavirus sub-variants, particularly Omicron LF.7, XFG, JN.1 and NB.1.8.1, are on the rise in various neighbouring countries. To prevent its possible spread in Bangladesh through international travellers, surveillance must be strengthened at the International Health Regulation (IHR) desks of all land, sea and airports of the country for people travelling to and from Bangladesh to India and other countries with infections, the notice said.

In addition, some measures should be taken to minimise the risk, it said.

These include:

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water (for at least 20 seconds).
• Use a mask to cover your nose and mouth.
• Stay at least 3 feet away from an infected person.
• Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unclean hands.
• Cover your nose and mouth with your arm/tissues/cloth when sneezing or coughing.

At points of entry, the following measures should be in place:

• Be vigilant. Health screening and surveillance should be strengthened at IHR (IHR-2005) health desks at various land/sea/airports in the country.
• Temperatures should be measured using non-touch techniques through thermal scanners/digital hand-held thermometers at points of entry in the country.
• Adequate quantity of masks, gloves and protective clothing should be kept in stock for use by health workers.
• Disease prevention guidelines should be disseminated to increase public awareness and prevent the spread of the virus.
• Travel to India and other affected countries should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.

If a patient suspects they have caught an infection, they should:

• Stay home if sick, contact the nearest hospital if seriously ill.

> Should use a mask to cover their nose and mouth.

>Contact the IEDCR hotline number 01401-196293 if necessary.