Suspected corona victim's relatives fled home to evade quarantine

The relatives and family members of an expatriate woman – who was suspected to have died from coronavirus in Sylhet – fled their homes after an announcement that they would be placed under quarantine.

The woman, 61, who was kept in isolation in Shamsuddin Hospital in Sylhet, died on Sunday. She was admitted on March 20 with fever, cough, cold and breathing problems.

She returned from the United Kingdom (UK) on March 4 with her husband. Her children are in the UK, reports our Sylhet correspondent.

Meanwhile our Khulna correspondent reports that two patients died from various cold related complications in two hospitals in Bagerhat and Narail, and their family members were also advised to stay in home quarantine.

In Sylhet, the deceased woman was buried under tight security in the presence of Civil Surgeon Dr Premanand Mondol, a few policemen and her relatives.

Dr Mondol said her saliva was collected to determine if she was infected with the coronavirus.

After her burial, the civil surgeon announced that all of her family members and relatives, who came in contact with the deceased, would be quarantined.

Following the announcement, the family members and relatives left their homes. A magistrate did not find any of them homes on Sunday afternoon.

Sylhet Additional Deputy Commissioner Abul Kalam confirmed the matter and said, "We found their houses locked. We were able to communicate with one of them over the phone who was asked to inform other relatives to return home. We will try to find out them."

Sylhet Additional Deputy Commissioner Kazi Emdadul Islam said they had not yet decided if Shamimabad area would be locked down.

Ward councillor of the area Tarek Uddin Taj said the deceased was from Sunamganj's Patli village. She was staying with her grandchildren and other relatives at a house in Shamimabad area. She did not interact much with her neighbours after she returned from the UK.

A team of the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research was supposed to go to Sylhet to collect the woman's blood sample on Sunday.

In Khulna, doctors could not confirm whether the two victims were infected with the coronavirus as both the hospitals had no corona testing facilities, said sources.

However, family members of both patients have been asked to stay in home quarantine.

Confirming the death, Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) Director ATM Manzur Morshed said, "One victim from Bagerhat's Mongla was admitted to the hospital Thursday last with breathing problems, cough and fever. He died hours after the admission."

"Another patient from Narail got admitted to a local clinic with the same health issues. He was being shifted to KMCH as his condition deteriorated. He died on the way," he also said.

Deputy commissioners of the respective districts have been informed about the matter, Manzur added.