Bangladesh minister gets dual COVID-19 test reports

DHAKA, Bangladesh

Bangladesh's Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who tested positive for COVID-19 in one test on Saturday, was tested negative in the other 24 hours later, an official said on Sunday.

"Both the minister, and Mostafa Kamal Uddin, the senior secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, were diagnosed with COVID-19 at the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research in Dhaka Saturday night," Sharif Mahmud Apu, a ministry spokesperson, told Anadolu Agency.

"Today, they were tested again by the Central Police Hospital, and the reports came back negative."

Despite the controversy, both the officials are in isolation and "are doing well." Local media said they might be tested again for certainty.

Meanwhile, the South Asian country of over 160 million registered 1,837 new cases of the novel virus and 21 related deaths, the Health Ministry said.

The total fatalities rose to 6,194, while the caseload reached 432,333.

Health Minister Zahid Malik said a negative COVID-19 negative certificate is mandatory for all returnees from abroad. Else, a 14-day mandatory quarantine will have to be completed.

Experts fear Bangladesh might face another surge in infections during the winter, and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed the authorities to remain prepared.

Bangladesh test captain Mominul Haque also contracted the virus earlier this week.