When you call coronavirus hotline what advises you
After asking callers about symptoms and international travel, national hotlines are recommending people visit one of four hospitals that are testing patients for coronavirus
Mohammad Farhan works for a garment company and met with a foreign buyer a few days ago. Farhan has been sick with a fever and cough since Saturday morning. However, he was also dealing with another symptom: the fear that he had coronavirus.
The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) launched five hotline numbers to sensitise people about the novel coronavirus. The numbers are 01700-705737, 01937-110011, 01937-000011, 01927-711784, and 01927-711785.
Farhan called the numbers for help, but all of them were busy. "After about 30 minutes of trying, 01937-000011 responded."
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"The responder first wanted to know my symptoms and then she asked me if I had returned from abroad. Finally, she advised me to visit any of the four hospitals – Kurmitola General Hospital, Kuwait Moitri Bangladesh Hospital, Mugda General Hospital, or the Dhaka Mohanagar General Hospital – that are testing if someone has coronavirus.''
The World Health Organization announced a name for the new coronavirus disease: COVID-19. Fever, cough, or shortness of breath are the symptoms of the illness.
Professor Md Nazrul Islam, former vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, told The Business Standard: "The steps that the IEDCR has taken so far are okay, but the doctors need to be more protected. People should avoid crowded places to stay safe."
