Bangladesh expatriates urged not to return to country

PBC News:  Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque has requested the expatriate Bangladesh nationals not to return home to check the spread of new coronavirus variant of Omicron.

“I request those who work abroad, particularly in African countries, stay at their respective work places. If 20,000 people come from South Africa at the same time, we will not be able to arrange quarantine for all,” he said.

The minister was talking to reporters following a discussion on ‘AIDS Day’ organised at BCPS Auditorium at Mohakhali at 12:00 noon on Wednesday.

The Health Minister said all the entry points of the country including airports and land ports so that Omicron can’t enter the country. “We will be succeed if we receive cooperation from all,” he said.

Zahid Maleque said: “Many of the hotels which were designated earlier for quarantine have returned to their normal activities because of the lack of guests. We again urge them to allow the use of their hotels for quarantine purposes.”

The Health Minister also said if someone comes to the country from now on, he or she will have to show Covid-19 test certificates done minimum 48 hours before boarding the flights.

But, those who will arrive from South Africa, they will have to stay in mandatory institutional quarantine for 14 days. At the same time, they will have to show Covid-19 certificates received 48 hours ago.