14-day mandatory quarantine for UK returnees to Bangladesh : Cabinet
The Cabinet’s decision on enforcing a 14-day mandatory quarantine for the UK returnees in the wake of transmission of a new variant of Covid-19 in the United Kingdom will be effective from January 1, 2021.
“A14-day quarantine has been made mandatory for the UK returnees. This decision will be effective from January 1 of the New Year (2021),” said an official statement here this night.
The decision on effectiveness of the quarantine was taken at a virtual meeting with Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam in the chair at 8.30pm.
As per the decision of the meeting, the UK returnees must stay in 14-day quarantine at hotels prescribed by the government at their own cost.
The existing rule of bringing COVID-19 certificate for returnees from other countries will remain in force. If necessary, more details will be informed later, said the information secretary.
Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus, Senior Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry Masud Bin Momen, Senior Secretary of the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry Md Mohibul Haque, Security Services Division Secretary Md Shahiduzzaman, Public Security Division Secretary Mostafa Kamal Uddin, Health Services Division Secretary Md Abdul Mannan, Medical Education and Family Welfare Division Secretary Md Ali Noor, Information Secretary Khaja Miah, Shipping Secretary Mohammad Mezbahuddin Chowdhury, Armed Forces Division’s Principal Staff Officer Lieutenant General Waqar-uz-Zaman, additional inspector of the Special Branch of Police, chairman of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, director general of the Directorate General of Health Services, director of IEDCR, managing director of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Sylhet divisional commissioner and director of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport joined the meeting.
Earlier, the decision on compulsory quarantine for UK returnees was taken at a regular meeting of the Cabinet with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair on Monday.
Following the discovery of the new COVID-19 variant in the UK, dozens of countries including India have suspended flights to and from Britain in fear of the spread of the new virus strain, which is reportedly 70 per cent more contagious.
While attending a lab inauguration programme at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on December 23, the state minister for civil aviation and tourism, M Mahbub Ali, told reporters that no decision was finalised over the suspension of flights with the UK.
He said that the government was observing the situation.
On the day, the health minister announced that the passengers coming from the UK would be placed under a seven-day mandatory quarantine upon arrival.
Civil Aviation Authorities, Bangladesh chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman said that there would be separate screening for passengers travelling from the UK at all international airports.
Bangladesh confirmed over 5.10 lakh cases and nearly 7,500 deaths from COVID-19 after its detection in the country on March 8.
BSS, New Age
