Govt to halt international flights if Covid cases spike abroad further

GBNEWS24 DESK//

Bangladesh government is considering to halt international flights again if the coronavirus situation worsens in other connecting countries.

“The decision on flight shutdown on international routes will be taken after observing the fresh wave of coronavirus abroad,” Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said.

The minister also said that, those who are returning from abroad with a Covid-19 negative certificate, will also be tested at the airports in Bangladesh.

Foreign Minister made the remark in response to a query from reporters after a programme at the Foreign Service Academy on Tuesday.

Earlier, PM Sheikh Hasina and other ministers advised countrymen to be prepared for the second wave of Coronavirus outbreak that likely to hit the country in the upcoming winter.

Experts say if proper measures are not taken to control the infection, the second wave of the virus will be harder to deal with.

In the past one week till 1 November, infections rose by about 2 per cent from the previous week. And experts say if cases rise for a second straight week, we can say the second wave has begun.

In the last 24 hours till Monday at 8am, Bangladesh recorded 2,139 cases of Covid-19 the highest figure in the last 71 days, raising the alarm of a further rise in this deadly virus in the country.

The country’s death toll from the virus now stands at 6,215 and the number of coronavirus cases stands at 4,34,472 till Monday.