Gov’t reduces compulsory quarantine period to 5 days for expats

The government has decided to enforce five-day quarantine instead of the 14-day mandatory quarantine for inbound expatriates coming from other countries.

The decision was made at an inter-ministerial emergency meeting on Thursday night which will remain in force till 28 April, Somoy TV reported.

Later, a handout from Civil Aviation Authority Bangladesh (CAAB) said arriving passengers who possess PCR based Covid-19 negative certificate and passengers who are either vaccinated with the first dose or not yet vaccinated will have to complete a mandatory 3-days institutional quarantine.

The quarantine period has been reduced due to the increasing pressure of expatriates returning on special flights during the lockdown while concerned authorities are struggling to cope with the pressure of the passengers.

At the same time, it was announced that the expatriates can stay at the government quarantine centers as well as in the hotels designated by the government.

The officials attending the virtual meeting also decided to convert commercial flights on Kuwait and Bahrain routes to special flights for sending back stranded expatriates quickly.

Moreover, Bangladeshis stranded in India will be allowed to enter the country through land ports; however, in that case, the local administration will ensure their 14-day institutional quarantine.

Incoming expatriates, who have taken two doses of covid-19 vaccine and have a corona negative certificate, were directed to go into 14-day home quarantine, which will be confirmed by the local administration.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmed and officials from the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry attended the meeting among others.