COVID Testing to be Reinstated at the Airport

On December 27 2022, Tuesday, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, during a cabinet meeting gave firm instructions to recommence testing procedures for COVID at international airports.

The meeting was held in the Cabinet meeting room of the Prime Minister’s office.

Later in the afternoon, Cabinet Secretary Kabir Bin Anwar briefed journalists at the Secretariat about the discussion that took place during the meeting. While briefing the secretary said that the new infection of the corona has spread in four countries including China so far. 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed the authorities to be extremely careful so that it does not spread in Bangladesh. She directed the local administration to ensure that people start following social distancing including wearing masks.

This decision to recommence COVID testing was expected as the news of an increased infection rate of the new variant of Covid-19 came to light. So in accordance with the reinstated rule, all passengers that arrive at the international airport from countries with higher infection rates, especially China, will have to be tested upon arrival at the airport. 

On the afternoon of 26 December at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, 4 passengers arriving from Kunming, China, tested positive for COVID. 

Though the passengers were carrying negative RT-PCR certificates, they still tested positive for the Virus when the rapid antigen test was conducted at the airport, as stated by the health officials.

Shahriar Sajjat, health officer at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, told a news portal, “They had no symptoms like many others on the same flight. We tested them randomly and found Covid-19 positive. But it may be inaccurate. They have been sent to DNCC Covid-19 Hospital for further screening,”

Some information about this new subvariant of Omicron, BF.7, is that it has a higher transmissible rate, higher immune escape capabilities and shorter incubation period than the previous coronavirus strains.

The Directorate General of Health Services has requested people to err on the side of caution, including taking booster jabs, maintaining social distancing and wearing masks in crowded places.