'WHO Did Not Suggest Lockdown of Bangladesh'

The World Health Organisation (WHO) denied that it suggested Bangladesh partial or complete lockdown of the country to effectively combat the outbreak of the deadly novel coronavirus.

Catalin Bercaru, a communication and media relations officer at the organization's country office, said WHO did not recommend the lockdown of Dhaka or of Bangladesh during their meeting with Dhaka South City Corporation mayor Sayeed Khokon.

WHO presented several alternatives that can be implemented for maintaining social distancing as well as for better-communicating advises towards the population on protecting themselves and the others, Catalin added.

Earlier, DSCC mayor Sayeed Khokon claimed that WHO suggested Bangladesh partial or complete lockdown.

WHO team, led by its representative to Bangladesh Bardan Jung Rana met DSCC mayor Sayeed Khokon at his Banani residence.

Khokon said WHO thinks the coronavirus situation in Bangladesh may take a serious turn in the days to come if urgent actions are not taken.

''The WHO delegation told us that some coronavirus-affected countries have chosen partial or complete lockdown or state of emergency to tackle the situation. All of them got good results as the number of fresh cases dropped drastically in those countries after taking such steps,'' he said.

The DSCC mayor said WHO thinks such a measure of social distancing can be effective in Bangladesh to overcome the coronavirus, but it is a matter of policy decision.

He said they wanted to know from the WHO team about how to deal with the coronavirus infected patients by the health service providers. ''They briefed us about it elaborately.''

Source: UNB