First positive coronavirus case in Chattogram

A 67-year-old man in Chattogram tested positive for coronavirus today, making it the port city's first confirmed case of the virus.

Hasan Shahriar Kabir, director (Chattogram division) of the Directorate General and Health Services (DGHS), confirmed the development to The Daily Star this evening.

The patient has been undergoing treatment at the Chattogram General Hospital since yesterday, said the DGHS Chattogram director.

His samples were tested at the Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (BITID) and the patient was found positive for coronavirus today, Shahriar Kabir added.

Professor Shakil Ahmed of BITID said they had tested 31 samples today, of which one was positive.

The patient's daughter and son-in-law recently returned from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah and have been residing at the man's two-storey house in Dampara Road No 1 area of the port city under Chawkbazar Police Station, said Mamun Ahmed Anik, executive magistrate of Chattogram district administration.

His daughter's mother-in-law also returned from Saudi Arabia with them and she is now at her house in Satkania upazila of Chattogram, the executive magistrate said.

Meanwhile, 40 families in six buildings in the area have been put in isolation. This includes 11 members of two families in the patient's building, the official added.

The area also has been locked down at around 9:30pm. Police have been deployed there to enforce the lockdown, Abdul Warish, deputy commissioner (Special Branch) of Chattogram Metropolitan Police, told The Daily Star.