The Ministry of Finance on Wednesday responded to the request of the Ministry of Health, and allocated Tk50 crore for the management of coronavirus.
The health ministry sought Tk100 crore or Tk1 billion for strengthening the preparations across Bangladesh including buying equipment and testing reagents.
Bangladesh announced the first three cases on March 8 – two of them returned from Italy while a family member contracted the virus.
Of the bulk allocation from the revised budget of 2019-2020, over Tk45 crore can be used for the treatment purposes including buying equipment. Tk1.98 crore has been allocated for raising awareness and Tk2.50 crore for buying medical reagents.
The Finance Division also asked the health ministry to inform the details of the spending within 10 days of buying equipment and other related materials.
This fund cannot be spent in other sector.
Earlier, the government postponed all the major events including the grand opening ceremony of the Mujib Borsho – the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman – on March 17.
Foreign dignitaries including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi deferred his visit following the rearrangements of the Bangladesh government.
People have been also wash hands frequently with soap and avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, and maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing. Viruses that affect the respiratory system enter the body through mucosal membranes which are found in the nose, oral cavity and lips. With poor hand hygiene, it is easy to acquire a viral infection this way.
Most people (about 80 percent) recover from the disease without needing special treatment, according to the WHO.
Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness.
