23 doctors and nurses quarantined in Chattogram
Chattogram Local administration has locked down the patient's relatives’ and neighbouring houses in Satkania and Chandnaish upazilas
A total of 23 medical personnel including three doctors and nurses of National Hospital in Chattogram city were sent to home quarantine as they came in contact with a coronavirus patient.
The patient was admitted in the intensive care unit of the hospital in the port city before he was tested positive for coronavirus.
Chattogram Civil Surgeon Dr Sheikh Fazle Rabbi today said, "The coronavirus positive patient had previously received treatment at the National Hospital. So, 23 medical staff have been sent to quarantine. There is no need for a full hospital lockdown."
Deputy General Manager of National Hospital Ltd, Babul Hasan, said, "There were 20 nurses, staff and three doctors who worked in the ICU and treated the patient. The administration has sent all of them to home quarantine for 14 to 21 days. Their salary allowance will continue during this time. We will also do check-up on them regularly."
On Friday, 32 samples were tested at Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases and one was identified as coronavirus positive. The 60-year-old patient was suffering from various diseases including diabetes and asthma. Authorities locked down his house in the Dampara area after the incident.
According to sources, the patient was not a returnee from abroad. His son and daughter-in-law had returned from Saudi Arabia on March 12. The patient might have contracted the virus from them, authorities believe. The patient visited two more clinics before coming to the General Hospital.
Chattogram Local administration has locked down the patient's relatives' and neighbouring houses in Satkania and Chandnaish upazilas.
Satkania Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Noor A Alam said, "The houses in Satkania were locked down at around 11:30 pm on Friday. Besides, all members of the house have been instructed not to go outside until further instructions."
Chandnaish Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Imtiaz Hossain said, "The corona-positive patient of Dampara has relatives here. Upon receiving the news, we have locked down the house with orders from higher authorities."