Bangladesh: Over 300,000 COVID-19 cases confirmed as of August 27 /update 20

Event

Bangladeshi health authorities have recorded over 300,000 confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases as of Thursday, August 27. In the last 24 hours, 2519 new cases have been reported, with 54 associated deaths, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 302,147. At least 4082 people in the country are known to have died from the disease.

Since July 26, all foreign nationals departing from Bangladesh are required to provide a COVID-19 test certificate issued within 72 hours of travel indicating a negative 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.

Face masks are mandatory at all times when moving in and around Bangladesh, including inside workplaces, educational facilities, shops, places of worship, restaurants, hospitals, and during social gatherings. A stay at home advisory has also been issued by the government from 22:00 to 05:00 (local time).  

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.