Government agencies are taking all precautionary measures in the country's prime port city Chattogram to face any possible novel Corona Virus, Covid-19 outbreak. Due to the virus alert, the publicity of Chattogram City Corporation CCC election may take a hit as the authorities suggested people to avoid any gathering.
The government committee formed to combat the virus has suggested that the all public meetings, including election camping’s, be kept as limited as possible. In addition, experts suggested setting up of Corona Detection Lab immediately at the country's major seaport and the country's second largest airport.
Bangladesh is at risk of Corona virus as its people often join mass gatherings that are the main cause of the spread of the deadly pathogen,. As mass gatherings in Bangladesh take place more frequently than many other countries, it will be a great risk, if coronavirus-infected people join such gatherings.
All the preparations were made in advance to intercept anyone infected by the coronavirus from the country’s prime seaports and airports. But due to the continued spread of the virus worldwide, it has begun to take even more precautionary measures. With the direction of the ministry an 11-member committee has been formed in Chattogram to prevent the threat of Covid-19.
Dr Sheikh Fazle Rabbi, Civil Surgeon of Chattogram, has advised the citizens of the city to be most cautious in the International Trade Fair started on Thursday and during the publicity in the upcoming CCC election. “We still have nothing to fear about Covid-19 in the country. But as a precautionary measure we discourage all kind of public meetings, processions, like in trade fair and election,” he added.
“Be careful about sneezing and coughing, washing hands properly and following other instructions thoroughly one can easily protect himself from virus”, he also added. CCC elections will be held on March 29. From March 10, various publicity campaigns, including public rally and street meeting of candidates, will begin formally.
Mohammad Hasanuzzaman, Returning Officer of CCC election and Chattogram Regional Election Officer, said any advice or directive from the health department regarding public rallies or meetings would be followed in the elections. As part of the Covid-19 alert, the temperature of the passengers and sailors from overseas is measured at the ports.
Dr Mamunur Rashid, Director of Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases BITID in Chattogram, feels that the Polymeric Chain Reaction PCR machine capable of detecting coronavirus, needs to be set up in the ports in addition to measure temperature. “In Chattogram, some PCR machines are in the hospitals but there are no kits to use in these machines”, he added.
Civil Surgeon Office source said, 10 ambulances have been reserved in Chittagong as an extra precaution. It has also been decided to convert the two schools into hospitals. The Chattogram Sea Port and Chattogram Shah Amanat International Airport authorities have intensified surveillance so that no infected patient can enter into the country.
A significant part of the country's import trade is with China through the sea route. Due to this, special steps have been taken on the Covid-19 alert at Chattogram Seaport and the international airport. The health of every sailor of ships from China to Chattogram port is being scanned as soon as they enter into Bangladesh territory anchoring in the outer anchorage.
Moreover, currently the sailors on those ships are not issued 'on-arrival' visas as part of this high alert measure. They are, however, put on special surveillance while ship in the ships in the outer anchorage.
