Don’t pay heed to rumours over coronavirus: Health Minister

Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque on Wednesday urged the country's people not to pay heed to any rumour over the coronavirus as a vested quarter is trying to mislead people with false information.

"It can't be expected in any way that a vested quarter will spread rumour and false information over the coronavirus in the country. Efforts are on to conduct false campaigns about consuming chicken, using masks and people returning home from abroad," he said.

Talking to reporters while visiting a newly-constructed building of the Nursing Directorate in the city's Mohakhali area, the minister said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) is regularly giving updates about coronavirus, and suggestions to prevent it.

"So, no-one should pay heed to any rumour over the virus," he added.

Maleque also urged people not to pay attention to any statements and information of any individual and institution over the coronavirus rather than the DGHS.

He said the government is well-prepared to prevent the deadly coronavirus which badly spread in China.

The minister said over 2 lakh people have so far been screened in all the entry points of the country as part the government's move to prevent coronavirus.

He also said they conducted tests on around 72 suspected people who returned home recently from abroad, but no-one of them was found infected with the virus.

The minister said the country's health sector has taken all-out preparations to provide necessary treatment if anyone in the country is found infected with coronavirus.

He said a huge number of people are now taking up nursing as their profession since there are 376 public and private nursing institutes in the country. "These institutes are producing about 20,000 nurses on average every year."

Maleque said the nursing institutes must fully follow the government's guidelines for the modernisation of the nursing profession.