Keeping all Italy returnees in quarantine mandatory

Health Minister Zahid Maleque has issued a direction to keep all the 142 Bangladeshis, who returned from Italy, in quarantine mandatorily at Ashkona Hajj Camp.

The health minister issued the direction over telephone to the persons concerned including Prof Dr Abul Kalam Azad, director general of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), on Saturday (March 14).

Maleque also said, “Those who will come to Bangladesh next time from the countries affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) will be kept in mandatory quarantine.”

“If the direction is violated, one must face fine or jail,” he warned.

Maidul Islam Prodhan, senior information officer at the Health and Family Welfare Ministry, confirmed the matter to risingbd.

It is mentionable that a total of 142 Bangladeshis, who returned from Italy this morning, were sent to Ashkona Hajj Camp directly from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

Dhaka/Asad/AI