3 Bangladeshis recover from coronavirus in Singapore

Three Bangladeshi nationals who were diagnosed with coronavirus in Singapore last month have left hospital after recovery.

Two more Bangladeshis were still receiving treatment at a hospital in Singapore, according to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).

IEDCR Director Prof Meerjady Sabrina Flora yesterday said out of the two one was in critical condition whereas another was expected to be discharged from the hospital soon.

Addressing a press briefing at the IEDCR office in the capital's Mohakhali, Flora said, "His [Bangladeshi who was in critical state] condition slightly improved but was not stable. He is now in ICU."

He was the first Bangladeshi to be infected with COVID-19 in Singapore on February 9.

At least five Bangladeshis were infected with the virus between February 9 and February 16 in the country.

No non-resident Bangladeshi was reported to be infected with the virus so far except of Singapore, United Arab Emirates and Italy, Flora said.

Meanwhile, 23 Bangladeshis who went to India from Chinese city Wuhan were kept quarantined around 40 miles away from Delhi, she added.

According to the IEDCR, three Filipino sailors of a coal-laden ship who came to Mongla port from Indonesia were out of danger. However, they were kept under monitoring.

Flora said the sailors left Indonesia more than 14 days ago and had not left the ship ever since.

The ship -- MV Serenitas-N -- arrived at Mongla port via Chattogram on March 4 with 24,000 tonnes of coal.

As per the rule, a medical team went on the ship on the same night and conducted tests on the sailors. All three sailors had above 100 degrees Fahrenheit body temperature then.

About fake health tips that circulated on internet in the name of Unicef and drew criticism, the IEDCR director said, no such health tip was circulated by the organisation. She made the comment on behalf of Unicef.

Meanwhile, neighbouring country Bhutan reported its first case of the coronavirus after a US tourist tested positive, reported AFP.

The Bhutan government immediately shut borders to foreign visitors for two weeks in an effort to limit the impact of a disease that has wreaked havoc in more developed countries around the world.

The number of positive cases of novel Coronavirus or COVID-19 in India has risen to 31 with the latest being reported from West Delhi, where the patient has a travel history to Thailand and Malaysia.

The virus killed 3,412 people and infected over 1 lakh across the globe so far.