coronavirus
Coronavirus: British Council postpones regular courses, classes
To minimise the spread of COVID-19 or coronavirus, British Council has postponed its regular face-to-face public courses and classes at all centres till March 31.
They will develop online or alternative modalities to conduct classes to maximise students’ learning opportunities, according to its website.
Public access to its library, cultural centre and front of office services in Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet will also be suspended during this time.
Bangladesh confirmed its second death from coronavirus on Saturday and a total of 24 cases so far. The health authorities also confirmed local transmission of the virus.
Coronavirus, which was first reported in China, has killed 11,398 people and infected 275,871 others until Saturday, according to worldometer. Of them, 172,561 are currently being treated with 7,765 being in serious or critical condition.
So far, 103,310 cases had outcomes and of them, 91,912 (89 percent) recovered and 11 percent died. The World Health Organization on March 11 declared the coronavirus crisis a pandemic.
ADB to support Bangladesh tackle coronavirus
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will support Bangladesh in tackling novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak challenges, ADB Country Director for Bangladesh Manmohan Parkash said.
Parkash had talks with Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal in this regard recently, according to a media statement issued Saturday.
The discussions included the government’s preparedness for mitigating any potential outbreak, its economic impact, and possible ADB support following a government request for assistance.
Bangladesh has requested ADB to provide assistance to help tackle challenges of a potential COVID-19 outbreak in the country, Parkash said, noting that as a long-standing development partner, ADB is committed to assist Bangladesh in this difficult time.
“We have initiated the process of quickly exploring the financing modality and other details in close coordination with the government and other stakeholders,” he said.
The global public health emergency, which has been dubbed a pandemic by the World Health Organization, calls for urgent measures to respond to the disease as well as tackling its economic fallouts.
ADB has recently announced $6.5 billion initial package to address the immediate needs of its developing member countries as they respond to the pandemic.
ADB’s previous responses to COVID-19 include $200 million made available through its Supply Chain Finance Program for companies manufacturing and distributing medicines and other items needed to combat coronavirus.
ADB’s response to date also includes $2 million announced on February 7 to enhance detection, prevention, and response in China and the Greater Mekong Subregion; another $2 million announced on February 26 to support response in all its developing members; and $18.6 million private sector loan, signed on February 25, to China-based pharmaceutical distributor Jointown Pharmaceutical Group Company Limited to support the continued supply of essential medicines and personal protective equipment.
Another grant of $600,000 was provided to Sri Lanka on March 13.
CCC election postponed
The Election Commission on Saturday postponed the Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) election slated for March 29 due to the coronavirus scare.
Coronavirus: Special parliament session postponed
The two-day special session of Parliament, scheduled to begin on Sunday on the occasion of the Mujib Borsho, was postponed on Saturday amid the growing coronavirus scare.
China, on virus PR offensive, sends masks and experts abroad
As the fight against a new virus shifts to Europe and beyond, China is supplying millions of masks and other desperately needed items to struggling governments, hoping to build political ties and defuse criticism that it allowed the disease to spread early on.
Chattogram to get Coronavirus testing kits Sunday
Testing kits to identify coronavirus (Covid-19) will arrive in Chattogram on Sunday, Civil Surgeon Dr Fazle Rabbi said Saturday.
“We visited Bangladesh Tropical and Infectious Diseases (BITID) on Friday. Everything is okay. We’ll do coronavirus testing here for the time being,” he said.
Chattogram’s Divisional Commissioner ABM Azad on Friday said the testing kits and other equipment were being brought to the port city within the next 48 hours.
He said corona testing will be carried out at BITID in Foujderhat.
Initially, coronavirus patients will be kept at Chattogram General Hospital and patients being treated here will be shifted to other hospitals.
“We’ve decided to prepare a number of isolation beds at BITID, Railway Hospital, Bandar Hospital and some other hospitals at the upazila level,” he said.
Civil Surgeon Rabbi said Chattogram has a shortage of ICUs. “We’re currently using Chittagong Medical College Hospital’s ICU and are trying to arrange alternatives,” he said.
All educational institutions, religious gatherings and entertainment centres in the port city have remained shut to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Coronavirus (Covid-19), which was first reported in China, has so far claimed two lives in Bangladesh and infected 24 people.
Globally, the virus has killed 11,398 people until Saturday and infected 275,871 people, according to worldometer. Of them, 172,561 are currently being treated with 7,765 being in serious or critical condition.
So far, 103,310 cases had outcomes and of them, 91,912 (89 percent) recovered and 11 percent died. The World Health Organization on March 11 declared the coronavirus crisis a pandemic.
Imports of medical supplies plummet as demand in US soars
The critical shortage of medical supplies across the U.S., including testing swabs, protective masks, surgical gowns and hand sanitizer, can be tied to a sudden drop in imports, mostly from China, The Associated Press has found.
BDRC working with govt to tackle coronavirus
Bangladesh Red Crescent Society has said they are working closely with the government to prevent the spread ofCoronavirus (Covid-19).
Coronavirus: Bangladesh’s Ireland tour postponed
Bangladesh and Ireland have jointly decided to postpone the Tigers' upcoming series against Ireland in Ireland and England.
9 traders fined for raising prices of daily commodities
Two mobile courts in Satkhira fined nine traders Tk 1.79 lakh for selling daily commodities at higher prices at Sultanpur bazaar in Sadar and Tala upazilas on Saturday.
Sadar Upazila Assistant Commissioner Asaduzzaman fined three traders Tk 125,000 while Tala upazila Executive Magistrate Azahar Ali fined six traders Tk 54,000.
Sources said the traders were selling daily commodities at higher prices taking advantage of panic buying triggered by the spread of coronavirus or COVID-19.
The courts conducted drives from around 10am to 2:30pm.