Quader says strategies adopted to fight Covid-19

Mentioning that a warlike situation is prevailing in the country following the coronavirus outbreak, road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader on Monday said the government has adopted necessary strategies to fight Covid-19, reports UNB.

"The government has some tactics and those will be kept secret for the sake of winning the war," he said while briefing reporters on the current issues at the secretariat.

Replying to a query about the allegation of hiding the coronavirus information, Quader, also Awami League general secretary, said, "Why'll we conceal the information? The government has announced a war against it and it also urged the whole nation to be part of the war."

Asked about personal protective equipment (PPE), he said steps have been taken to collect those and the government and physicians have taken preparations for everything. "The government is trying to import those from abroad," he said.

There is no situation to be panicked and the government is sincere about that, said the minister.

He also urged all to refrain from spreading rumours through social media platforms about coronavirus.

Responding to a question that those infected with COVID-19 are not getting the scope to undergo medical tests, Quader said, "Though there were some weaknesses at the beginning, now we're trying to overcome those. The government is taking preparations to strengthen test activities."

Talking about the lockdown, he said, "The government has locked down some areas partially as per the demand of the situation."

Another person has died in Bangladesh after testing positive for COVID-19, taking the total death toll to three, said Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) said on Monday.

Besides, six more people, including a health worker, have been diagnosed with coronavirus as the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country has increased to 33.

Bangladesh reported the country's first death from coronavirus on 18 March while the first coronavirus cases on 8 March.

Thousands of Bangladeshis have returned from various countries since the outbreak started and most of them did not follow the rules of home quarantine.