The visiting Chinese medical team experts have said masks should not be reused and asymptomatic patients can also be contagious.

However, the use time of individual masks can be extended a bit sometimes, they said. 

On the 9th day of their two-week visit, the team of Chinese medical experts held meeting with the top officials of Communicable Disease Control (CDC), DGHS, and had an interactive online experience sharing with directors and superintends of hospitals from different corners of the country.

Bangladesh side highlighted their current challenges and the experts sought to guide them sharing the successful experience on containment and prevention of the pandemic as well as treatments of COVID patients in Wuhan and other parts of China.

In response to the relevant questions of Bangladesh side, the Chinese experts said that the virus can survive in patient’s body for 60 days in extreme cases with two weeks of incubation period.

On the reemergence of positive symptoms in patient’s body after recovery, the team led by LI Wenxiu pointed at two possible reasons; there is perhaps something wrong with the test results and no permanent immunity is obtained after recovery.

About the measures of successful determination of the suspected cases, the experts advised to check on contact history, typical symptoms, abnormal blood routine, and lung CT image.

They also talked about the differences between KN95 and N95 masks saying that KN95 is for industrial dust and N95 is for preventing liquid spillage.

As for another very important question about whether an asymptomatic infected person is contagious, the Chinese experts answered, “Yes, it can be contagious, which is why the persons should be treated as the ordinary COVID patients."

During the special session with the top medical professionals from Chattogram and Sylhet, both sides talked about various fundamental strategies to have a successful fight against the pandemic.

To avoid infection of laboratory personnel, the Chinese team advised that thorough disinfection is necessary while every single resumption begins.

On sample transferring, they said the whole process should have special channels for collection, transportation and access to the laboratory, and most of all the samples must be sealed in 3 layers.

While replying to a question about whether the COVID patients need special treatment if they have other lung infections, the experts suggested that the original disease and COVID-19 symptoms should be treated simultaneously, and the etiology needs to be tested first to make the decision on which antibiotics have to be used.

Asked about what to do after the death of COVID-19 patients, they answered that the whole body of the deceased should be disinfected, wrapped in two impermeable bags and then transported to the dedicated  place for burial.