Deceased man in Bogura not coronavirus positive

A man who recently died in Bogura from symptoms similar to that of Covid-19 was not infected with the virus, authorities confirmed on Monday.

The deceased Masud Rana died of fever and shortness of breath in his home at the Daridah village of Shibganj upazila on March 23.

Bogura Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr Mustafizur Rahman said the man had recently arrived from Dhaka, after which he died with coronavirus symptoms last week.

"This prompted the upazila authorities to quarantine 10 houses in the village," he said.

Dr Mustafizur added that the health department had then sent the samples of the deceased to Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).

"The IEDCR later confirmed the man did not have coronavirus."

Shibganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Alamgir Kabir said residents of the 10 houses are now free to leave.

According to the district health department, 190 people in home-quarantine have been given a clean bill of health. But 787 more expatriates are in home-quarantine in Bogura, none of whom have displayed any symptoms of Covid-19 so far.

However, samples of two people who arrived at the Mohammad Ali Hospital in Bogura with symptoms of the virus have been sent to Dhaka for tests, said resident physician Dr Safiq Amin Kajal.