THE total number of persons infected with novel coronavirus has been increased to 10 in Bangladesh with two new cases confirmed on Tuesday (17).
According to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) Director Prof Meerjady Sabrina Flora, the country steps up vigil, and as many as 150 ICU beds are already prepared to treat patients.
One of the two cases has been infected with the virus after coming in contact with someone who had returned from abroad. The other patient is in institutional quarantine.
The infected person is undergoing treatment in a hospital, she said.
"So far, a total of 16 people have been kept in isolation and 43 remain in institutional quarantine," Prof Meerjady informed.
Till today, IEDCR received 4,205 calls to the hotline numbers. Of them, 4,164 were coronavirus related.
IEDCR director also urged people who returned from abroad not to travel anywhere -- to prevent the spread of the virus.
"Those who think they are infected with the virus should not come to the IEDCR office. Please call us, we will collect samples from your home," she urged.
When asked about risk at garments factories, she advised factory owners and authorities:" Do not allow any employee or anyone who has coronavirus-like symptoms. Give them leave with payment so that they are not worried in this regard."
She also urged people not to hold social programmes during this time of crisis.
Dr Sunil Kumar Eastern Eye 
Dr Saraswati HosdurgaEastern Eye
