Health Minister Zahid Malique today urged Bangladeshi expatriates not to return home right now in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus in the country.

The minister reiterated his call while briefing on the latest situation at his secretariat office in Dhaka this afternoon, a day after the World Health Organization described the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic.

The minister also urged expatriates who have already returned to the country to stay in self-quarantine as a part of safety measures.

Malique said the government has brought 10 more thermal scanners to install at strategic points of ports where travellers' body temperatures are being checked using hand-held infrared thermometers.

Earlier addressing a press conference on March 9, the minister also urged the Bangladeshi citizens staying abroad, especially in Italy and China, not to return home.