Italy's health ministry orders one-week flight ban from Bangladesh.

Italy is suspending all flights from Bangladesh for one week due to a “significant number” of passengers who tested positive for covid-19 on a flight to Rome on 6 July, the Italian health ministry has announced.

During the week-long flight ban, the government will draw up new precautionary measures for all arrivals from outside the EU and the Schengen area, the health ministry said in a statement.

• Lazio region calls for covid-19 tests for arrivals at Rome airport

The move comes as Italian health authorities registered 39 positive coronavirus cases among passengers arriving in Rome from Bangladesh in the last few days.

• Italy keeps quarantine in place as EU opens borders

The Lazio Region, which raised the alarm, began "blanket testing" for covid-19 among the local Bangladesh community on 6 July.

Photo: RAI News