Bangladesh reports first 3 cases of coronavirus

Bangladesh has confirmed its first three cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), said the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) on Sunday.

Among the infected people, two are men and one is woman. Their ages are between 20 to 35.  

Disclosing the matter at a press briefing, IEDCR Director Meerjady Sabrina Flora said two of them have recently returned home from Italy, the worst-hit European country with 233 deaths from the virus. 

The novel coronavirus first emerged in Wuhan of China's Hubei province and later spread to more than 100 countries across the globe. So far, the virus claimed 3,598 lives and infected 105,801 people globally. 

She said the patients have been kept isolated at a hospital and, treatment is being given to them. They are in stable condition at the moment, she added. 

Apart from the trio, two other people have also been quarantined on suspicion of coronavirus infection, she said.

Flora also urged people not to be panicked right now but advised for cautious movement outside.

Panic earlier gripped people of Bangladesh when neighbour India recorded its first coronavirus case on January, and as of Sunday the country's total number of COVID-19 reached 39.