Authorities report the first coronavirus case in the crowded camps for Rohingya refugees in southern Bangladesh. More than 1 million refugees from Myanmar are sheltered in the camps.
FILE - In this April 15, 2020, file photo, a health worker from an aid organization walks wearing a hazmat suit at the Kutupalong Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Authorities on Thursday, May 14, 2020 reported the first coronavirus case in the crowded camps for Rohingya refugees in southern Bangladesh, where more than 1 million refugees have been sheltered, a Bangladeshi official and the United Nations said.
DHAKA, Bangladesh — Authorities have reported the first coronavirus case in the crowded camps for Rohingya refugees in southern Bangladesh, where more than 1 million refugees are sheltered. The person from the Rohingya community and a local person who lives in the Cox’s Bazar district who also tested positive have been isolated, Mahbub Alam Talukder, the country’s refugee commissioner, said Thursday.
Teams have been activated for treatment of the patients as well as tracing people they may have encountered and quarantining and testing of those contacts, Louise Donovan, a spokeswoman for the U.N. refugee agency, told The Associated Press. Aid workers have been warning of the potential for a serious outbreak if the virus reached the camps. With about 40,000 people per square kilometer living in plastic shacks side by side, which is more than 40 times the average density of Bangladesh, the refugees would be dangerously exposed to the virus.Most of the Rohingya have fled Myanmar since August 2017, when Myanmar’s military launched counterinsurgency operations in response to rebel attacks.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Exclusive: As COVID-19 cases in Yemen surge, some sources see undercountingYemen has more suspected coronavirus cases and deaths than the authorities have so far reported, four sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, as the United Nations warned the virus is spreading in the war-ravaged country.
Read more »
China strives to make widespread virus testing the new normBeijing has 67 labs capable of processing 48,000 tests a day, but other less well–off provinces, including Yunnan and Guangxi, are playing catch–up, opening new labs in recent weeks.
Read more »
China reports three new COVID-19 cases, down from seven a day earlierChina reported 3 new coronavirus cases for May 13, down from 7 cases a day earlier, the country's health commission said.
Read more »
COVID-19 pandemic could cause spike in psychosis cases, scientists warn'COVID-19 is a very stressful experience for everyone, particularly those with complex mental health needs,' said Ellie Brown of the University of Melbourne.
Read more »
California border hospitals see rise in COVID-19 cases coming from MexicoWhile much of the country is seeing less and less COVID-19 cases, the border region of California is still busy dealing with sick patients.
Read more »
Column: We shut down the economy to make progress against COVID-19 — and then made no progressThe U.S. is suffering shutdown fatigue because the COVID-19 war has stagnated.
Read more »