Bangladesh: Departing foreign nationals to present negative COVID-19 test result as of July 26 /update 19

Event

As of Sunday, 26 July all foreign nationals departing from Bangladesh are required to provide a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test certificate issued within 72 hours of travel indicating a negative COVID-19 test result. This test certificate must be issued by one of the hospitals listed on the official Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh website. Travelers will be exempt from this measure so long as they've spent less than 14 days in Bangladesh or are under the age of ten. 

Separately, on arrival in Bangladesh, all foreign nationals are required to produce a medical certificate issued within 72 hours of travel indicating they are COVID-19 negative.

Bangladeshi authorities announced on June 30 that the restrictions in place to contain the spread of COVID-19 have been extended until August 3. Curfew hours have been shortened to between 22:00 and 05:00 (local time). However, all non-essential travel remains prohibited. The wearing of face masks and social distancing measures also remain compulsory in public places, while a ban on rallies, meetings, and mass gatherings remain in place. Public transportation has been allowed to operate in some regions at a reduced capacity.

As of Wednesday, July 29, health authorities have confirmed 229,185 COVID-19 cases, with 3000 associated deaths in the country. Further spread of the virus is expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.