260 foreign workers of Rooppur power plant sent to institutional quarantine

A total of 260 foreign workers of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, who returned from their home countries -- mostly from Russia -- were sent to institutional quarantine yesterday.

They have been quarantined at three separate places in the project site, reports our Pabna correspondent quoting Dr Fakhrul Islam, a physician of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant's residential area 'Green City'.

He told The Daily Star that the 260 foreign workers were sent to quarantine when they returned yesterday for joining work.

A 14-day quarantine is compulsory for those who arrive from Europe, he said.

Their samples will be collected for Covid-19 test after 13 days, the doctor said adding that they will be allowed to join work if the test reports come negative.

Sources at the project said in total 2,800 foreigners are working for the project.

Ishwardi Upazila Health Officer AM Asma Khan told The Daily Star that the workers who came from Russia are being administered Russian Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik-7 under special arrangement.    

So far, 1,000 Russian workers have been vaccinated, she said.

The project's medical team is working for the vaccination of all the foreign workers.

Ruhul Quddus, site in-charge of Rooppur project, said they are maintaining health guidelines strictly. If anyone -- local or foreigner -- is infected with Covid-19, the person is being given treatment, keeping him or her in isolation.

Besides, they are also conducting regular health check-up of the workers, he said.