Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus has instructed the health ministry to increase the number of health staff to 30 in each shift for screening passengers at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.

Kaikaus gave the instruction during a meeting of secretaries of different ministries with him held at the Prime Minister's Office last night, Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Mohibul Haque told The Daily Star.  

The meeting was held following growing concerns over the spread of coronavirus, he said.

At present, only six health staff officials in each shift are working at the airport for screening passengers coming from different countries and facing difficulties in discharging their duties due to shortage of manpower, he said.

In the meeting, the principal secretary expressed dissatisfaction at the shortage of manpower assigned for screening passengers, Mohibul Haque said.

Kaikaus asked the health ministry to increase the number of health employees at the airport immediately, added the civil aviation secretary.