As COVID-19 cases surge in various parts of India, a new subvariant of the Omicron strain has begun spreading across the country. Public health officials in Bangladesh have expressed concern that the variant could potentially affect the country as well.
In response, Bangladesh has ramped up health safety measures at all entry points, including land, sea, and international airports. Screening procedures have been reintroduced to detect possible COVID-19 symptoms among incoming travelers, particularly from India.
At the Benapole immigration check post, medical officers are actively examining travelers for symptoms of coronavirus. The health screening is being conducted at a designated medical desk by sub-assistant community medical officers.
On June 4, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) issued an official directive signed by Dr. Md. Farhad Hossain, Director of Disease Control, advising all relevant health desks and immigration points to strengthen monitoring and enforce preventive health protocols.
All immigration and International Health Regulation (IHR) health desks have been instructed to ensure thorough health checks and deliver health messages to passengers arriving from India and other countries, in an effort to curb the spread of the virus.