The coronavirus disease (Covid-19) that started in China has now become a global health crisis which, in turn, has caused an economic crisis.

As we have said time and again in this column, echoing the directives of WHO and experts within the country and outside—we must speed up the testing process on an urgent basis, now that we are entering the fourth week since Bangladesh reported its first official Covid-19 case.

In these dark and depressing times, when we are bombarded with news of death, hardship and mismanagement of scarce resources, it is truly heartening to see that individuals and small organisations are stepping up and reaching out to those most in need of support.

A large number of dairy farmers in Pabna and Sirajganj are facing a tough time as big milk factories have drastically cut collection of the item from the famous milk producing zone during the ongoing general holidays and countrywide shutdown-like situation aimed at containing the spread of coronavirus.

Banks’ capacity to provide loans at 9 per cent interest has shrunk even before the government-fixed ceiling is implemented as both individuals and corporate institutions are withdrawing deposits to protect themselves from the ongoing economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.

New York food banks have become inundated with newcomers deprived of income since the near-total halt of business in the United States’ economic capital.

An unknown fear grips Azizur Rahman every time he comes out of his home in the morning. An ambulance driver for years, Azizur feels he might contract coronavirus anytime as he has to come in contact with different patients every now and then.

After testing 153 samples, the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research yesterday reported one Covid-19 case, bringing the tally of confirmed cases to 49.

Local and national NGOs, civil society groups and journalists call upon the government to launch a wide-range of awareness campaigns on coronavirus in the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar and lift the restrictions on using mobile phones and internet and resume 4G facilities at the camps in Ukhiya and Teknaf.

At least 89 Bangladeshis with valid passports return home from India through Bhomra Land Port in Satkhira.

Owners of an eco-resort in Gazipur volunteere their premises to be used as an isolation centre for people on institutional quarantine or those diagnosed with coronavirus.

Nine Bangladeshis, who returned from the UK, are sent to institutional quarantine as they all had high fevers.

Police Headquarters calls upon all not to spread misleading information and rumours against police as it is demotivating the officials who are working for the welfare of the country amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

A total of 269 US citizens leaves Dhaka on a special flight arranged by the US government for those who opted to return home on their personal choice amid the outbreak of COVID-19.

The UK High Commission in Dhaka advises British citizens currently living in Bangladesh to be prepared to stay in the country until commercial flights resume.

Police in western India fire tear gas to disperse a stone-pelting crowd of migrant workers defying a three-week lockdown against the coronavirus that has left hundreds of thousands of poor without jobs and hungry.

Chandpur district police officials today urged everyone distributing relief among those in need to make sure standards of physical distancing are being maintained to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Sexagenarian Husne Ara Begum was struggling to take her pregnant daughter to a hospital in Chattogram city in the wee hours today. There was no traffic jam on the road, but there was no possibility to get a vehicle at that time either as the 10-day shutdown is on in the port city like other parts of the country due to the coronavirus pandemic. She had to take her daughter to the hospital at any cost and as soon as possible. Finding no other way, Husne Ara finally decided to call police around 12:00 am, seeking help for her daughter.

Bracing the nation for a death toll that could exceed 100,000 people, President Donald Trump extends restrictive social distancing guidelines through April, bowing to public-health experts who presented him with even more dire projections for the expanding coronavirus pandemic.

Samples of a 45-year-old-man, who died with coronavirus-like symptoms in Bogura’s Shibganj upazila on Friday, tested negative, say officials.