COVID-19 Information

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Last updated:  [11/18/20]

Country-Specific Information:

  • Please check the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) webpage at https://iedcr.gov.bd/for the most updated statistics on COVID-19 cases in Bangladesh.
  • As of July 23, the Government of Bangladesh will take legal action against those not wearing masks or social distancing. Since May 30, the Government of Bangladesh has made wearing masks and social distancing mandatory when outside the home. Public administrators in Khulna Division have instituted a fine of TK 4,000 for those not adhering to this order.
  • Restrictions on overnight movement have been lifted.
  • The public transit system is returning to full capacity, but passengers must wear face masks and they must be seated (no standing room). All 100 intercity trains resumed full operation as of September 5.
  • Government offices, private businesses, banks, factories and other services will remain open if all safety guidelines are followed.

Entry and Exit Requirements:

  • Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter Bangladesh? Yes.
  • Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? Yes.
    • Foreign nationals with valid visas will be required to produce a medical certificate (with English translation) to be obtained within 72 hours of travel, indicating that he/she is COVID-19 negative.  This medical certificate needs to be submitted on arrival at the Bangladesh point of entry (airport/seaport/land port). Children under 10 years of age are exempt from this requirement.
  • Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? Yes.
    • The Government of Bangladesh has begun distributing health information cards and conducting temperature screening of all passengers arriving in Bangladesh at all points of entry.
  • Effective July 30, 2020, the Government of Bangladesh relaxed the COVID-19 test result requirement for all departing passengers. Passengers traveling abroad still must meet any COVID-19-related tests required by their airline or their destination country. Tests are required to be from one of Bangladesh’s authorized testing facilities.
  • U.S. citizens may submit their visa renewal applications to the Department of Immigration and Passports. Approvals may be delayed but as long as the application has been submitted before their original visa expires, travelers are still in compliance.

Movement Restrictions:

  • Is a curfew in place? No.
  • Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel? No.
  • DHAKA COVID-19 RED ZONES 
    • The Government of Bangladesh (GoB) has established a three-zone system to categorize COVID-19 infected areas as Red, Yellow and Green.
    • The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) determines zoning parameters based on the number of COVID-19 infected individuals living within a high, moderate or low population density ranked area:
      • High density populated areas with more than 39 confirmed cases per 100,000 residents are marked as Red Zones.
      • Moderately dense populated areas located outside the cities (to include villages) with more than 30 confirmed cases per 100,000 residents are categorized as Red Zones.
      • High density populated areas with less than 39 confirmed cases per 100,000 residents are marked as Yellow Zones.
      • Moderately dense populated areas located outside the cities to include villages with less than 30 confirmed cases per 100,000 residents are categorized as Yellow Zones.
      • Areas with less than five cases will be Green Zones.
    • DGHS has identified and categorized 45 areas in the Dhaka Metropolitan area as Red zones.  Of the areas identified, 17 are located within the Dhaka North City Corporation, and 28 are located within the Dhaka South City Corporation.
      • Red Zones in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC):  Bashundhara, Badda, Cantonment, Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Rampura, Aftabnagar, Mohammadpur, Kallyanpur, Gulshan, Moghbazar, Airport, Banasree, Rayerbazar, Rajabazar, Uttara and Mirpur.
      • Red Zones in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC):  Jatrabari, Demra, Gendaria, Lalbagh, Azimpur, Basabo, Shantinagar, Paltan, Kalabagan, Ramna, Sutrapur, Malibagh, Kotwali, Tikatoli, Shahjahanpur, Motijeel, Wari, Khilgaon, Poribagh, Shahbag, Eskaton, Kodomtoli, Siddheshwari, Laxmibazar, Elephant Road, Segunbagicha, Malibagh and Khilgaon.
    • It is important to note GoB officials have confirmed that the list of Red zones does not mean the areas are or will be under lockdown restrictions.  The Public Administration Ministry will issue notification days in advance through local media to announce that an uptick in cases now requires a lockdown public order.
    • Unless an area has been announced and marked as a ‘lockdown/containment’ zone, DGHS and local governments have not imposed and are not enforcing movement bans or restrictions on residents living within designated red zones.
    • Currently, only certain sectors located within the Wari jurisdiction of the Dhaka South City Corporation are designated as ‘lockdown/containment’ zones. In these areas, the City Corporations will facilitate emergency response services.
    • Restrictions on Designated Lockdown/Containment Areas:
      • Pedestrian and vehicular movements controlled through secured entry/exit points.
      • Residents should remain within their homes except for emergencies or for essential needs.
      • No indoor dining services allowed. Delivery food service options are available.
      • Grocery stores and pharmacies will remain open.
      • Residents will be allowed to shop in bazaars only when necessary.
      • Residents must work from home.
      • Transportation will be suspended. Rickshaws, vans, taxis, auto-rickshaws, and private vehicles are not permitted inside the demarcated areas during the 21-day lockdown.
      • COVID-19 tests will be available to residents, and home isolation or institutional isolation will be arranged for patients who test positive.
      • Shopping malls, gyms, sports complexes and recreation centres will be closed.
      • No public gatherings of any kind are allowed.
      • Only people who are ill may go to hospitals.
      • Mosques and other places of worship are closed to residents. Only official staff are permitted to enter.
      • ATM services will remain open. Banks will operate in a limited capacity.
      • Factories in towns will remain closed, but factories and agricultural production-related factories in rural areas can remain operational.
      • Agricultural work must be performed under strict health and hygiene regulations.

Quarantine Information:

  • Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? Yes.
  • If international travelers arrive in Bangladesh with COVID-19 symptoms, they will be institutionally quarantined for 14 days.
  • If international travelers arrive in Bangladesh with no COVID-19 symptoms, they will be required to “home quarantine” for 14 days.
  • For persons of Bangladeshi origin who possess a “no visa required” stamp in their passport:
    • If they arrive in Bangladesh without the required COVID-19 negative medical certificate, they will be institutionally quarantined for 14 days.
    • If they arrive in Bangladesh with the required COVID-19 negative medical certificate, they are required to home/self-quarantine for 14 days.
    • If they arrive in Bangladesh with the required COVID-19 negative medical certificate, but are diagnosed with any COVID-19 symptom upon arrival, they will be institutionally quarantined for 14 days.
    • Children under 10 years of age are exempt from these requirements.
  • The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) is maintaining a registry of incoming travelers from all affected countries to monitor for the development of symptoms.
  • The Government of Bangladesh has set up a public health emergency control room at IEDCR as well as established four COVID-19 hotlines:
    • +8801937000011
    • +8801937110011
    • +8801927711784
    • +8801927711785

COVID-19 Testing:

  • The Government of Bangladesh has provided a list of recommended COVID-19 testing facilities for international passengers here. Those wishing to get tested will have to pay for their own COVID-19 test.

Transportation Options:

  • Are commercial flights operating? Yes.
    • The Government of Bangladesh has authorized the resumption of limited international commercial flights.  International flights to/from Bahrain, China, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Turkey, U.A.E. and the U.K. are permitted to operate. We urge U.S. citizens to check with their airline and destination country to determine what COVID-19-related documents are required for traveling in order to avoid delays in departing Bangladesh.
    • Travelers flying on Qatar Airways, please be advised of the following requirement: 
      • Effective August 13, Qatar Airways will require a COVID-19 negative certificate for passengers departing from Dhaka. Passengers will be required to present the certificate at check-in. Tests must be issued within 72 hours of departure from labs that are approved by Qatar Airways. Children under 12 do not need a test provided they are accompanied by an adult passenger presenting a negative test. Passengers that do not present a COVID-19 negative test, along with Qatar Airways’ consent form, will not be allowed to board. For more information, including a list of Qatar Airways approved labs, please visit: https://www.qatarairways.com/en/travel-alerts/COVID-19-update.html
    • Travelers transiting through U.A.E. please be advised of the following requirements:
      • Effective Friday, July 10, passengers departing from Dhaka on Emirates must show COVID-19 PCR test results at the time of check-in in order to depart Bangladesh.  The test must have been administered no more than 96 hours/4 days prior to flight departure.  For now, Emirates will accept PCR COVID19 test results from authorized (Government approved) facilitation locations.  For more information, visit https://www.emirates.com/english/help/travel-updates/?dm_i=329Z,120D7,1Y4ZN2,419T5,1#3515or contact Emirates directly.
    • Travelers transiting through Turkey please be advised of the following requirements:
      • Foreign passengers who test positive for COVID-19 on landing flights will be referred to a private hospital by the Ministry of Health – Border Health Unit, whereas Turkish passengers will be referred to a state hospital. For more information, visit https://www.istairport.com/en/covid19.
    • Travelers transiting through the UK please be advised of the following requirements:
  • Please be aware that these requirements could change at any time and you should check with your airline for updated guidance.
  • To avoid the further spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh announced until further notice all international commercial passenger flights from Bhutan, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Nepal, and Thailand shall not be allowed to land at any airport in Bangladesh.
  • Additionally, effective August 1, 2020, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh has restricted the number of passengers on flights to and from Bangladesh. For a two-aisle/wide body aircraft, there should not be more than 260 passengers aboard and for a one-aisle/narrow body aircraft, not more than 140 passengers aboard.
  • Effective June 1, domestic commercial passenger flights have resumed on a limited scale.
  • Is public transportation operating? Yes.
    • The public transit system is returning to full capacity, but passengers must wear masks and buses will not allow for standing room.

Fines for Non-Compliance:

  • As of July 23, the Government of Bangladesh will take legal action against those not wearing masks or social distancing. Since May 30, the Government of Bangladesh has made wearing masks and social distancing mandatory when outside the home. Public administrators in Khulna Division have instituted a fine of TK 4,000 for those not adhering to this order.

Consular Operations:

  • The U.S. Embassy continues to offer emergency American citizen services, including emergency passport services, notary services and Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) processing.
  • As of March 19, 2020, the U.S. Embassy has suspended all routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments. At this time, we are only interviewing for F, J, and M nonimmigrant visas on a limited basis. We continue to accept nonimmigrant interview-waiver applications.

Local Resources:

By | 23 July, 2020 | Topics: Alert, News | Tags: ,

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