14 staffers of Chattogram supershop placed in quarantine

Police have locked down a supershop in Khulshi area of Chattogram city and sent its 14 staffers on home quarantine this evening in connection with the first confirmed coronavirus patient in the port city.

The patient's son is a staff of the supershop and he used to deal with customers directly. He came to the workplace on March 24 last, said Abdul Warish, deputy commissioner (Special Branch) of Chattogram Metropolitan Police. 

The supershop named 'Basket' will remain closed until further notice and the staffers will remain in home quarantine in this regard, said Deputy Commissioner (North zone) Bijay Basak.

Earlier yesterday, a 67-year-old man in Chattogram's Dampara area tested positive for coronavirus, making it the port city's first confirmed case of the virus.

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.

Later, 40 families in six buildings in the area have been put in isolation, including 11 members of two families in the patient's building.

ICUs of 12 pvt hospitals to be used for Covid-19 patients: Ctg DGHS

Authorities have decided to use the intensive care units (ICU) of 12 private hospitals in the port city for treatment of coronavirus patients.

Chattogram divisional office of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) issued a gazette notification today in this regard.

Chattogram Civil Surgeon Seikh Fazle Rabbi confirmed the development to The Daily Star.

The hospitals are: Parkview Hospital, Imperial Hospital, Medical Centre, Surgiscope Hospital, Delta Hospital, CSTC Hospital, National Hospital, CSCR Pvt Limited, Asian Hospital, Royal Hospital, Metropolitan Hospital and Max Hospital.

Among these, Parkview Hospital has already been asked to prepare the ICU service for treatment of coronavirus patients after a divisional taskforce -- comprising army officials and civilians -- to fight the Covid-19 outbreak decided to use its ICU support on March 27.