Don’t come to IEDCR directly over coronavirus suspicion: director

Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) today urged all suspected coronavirus patients not to come to the IEDCR directly for getting tested.

IEDCR Director Prof Meerjady Sabrina Flora came up with the request at a press briefing held at her Mohakhali office this afternoon.

"If you suspect you're infected, inform us over phone first. We would instruct the next step. But please don't come to IEDCR directly," she said.

Their medical teams would visit suspected coronavirus patients' homes and collect samples for test if needed, she said. 

Meanwhile, 10 people were being kept in isolation, four institutionally quarantined at different hospitals, and 2,314 people in home quarantine in the last 24 hours, according to IEDCR.

The IEDCR also tested 20 people in the last 24 hours, it said. With this, a total of 231 people were tested, it added.

Two more persons were diagnosed with COVID-19 in Bangladesh yesterday, hours after the authorities announced that the first three cases had recovered.

Of the new patients -- both males -- one returned from Italy and the other from Germany around two weeks ago.