Published in: The Daily Star

Date: 20 Mar 2020

The government is considering placing the most vulnerable areas on lockdown as part of its efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus.

It is also thinking about closure of big shopping malls in cities. Kitchen markets and stores selling daily essentials, however, will stay open.

Crucial meetings, including those of the cabinet and the Ecnec, would be held, but the meetings considered less important would be avoided.

These measures were discussed at a meeting of National Economic Council (NEC) at the planning ministry yesterday.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who presided over the meeting, gave several directives on how to slow the coronavirus outbreak, meeting sources said.

The meeting also decided that all government offices would remain open.

Meanwhile, the government yesterday instructed the authorities concerned to halt all political, cultural and religious gatherings until further notice.

In a video conference in the evening, top government officials, including Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Ahmad Kaikaus, strictly ordered the field-level officials to ensure that such gatherings, including “waz mahfils”, remain suspended for now.

In another development, restrictions were imposed on public transport movement at some places in Madaripur’s Shibchar upazila yesterday. Those places in the upazila are being considered “vulnerable” to the coronavirus outbreak, said government officials.

Most shops, including those of cosmetics, furniture and electronic appliances, in those places were also closed. The shops selling daily essentials, however, were open.

The moves came as four more persons were diagnosed with Covid-19 yesterday, taking the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country to 18.

WHO has lately declared the outbreak a global pandemic.

CORONA ISSUE DOMINATES MEETING

Health Minister Zahid Maleque told the meeting yesterday that Shibchar upazila should be placed on lockdown as the number of returnees from abroad was higher there, said meeting sources.

He also said many of the confirmed coronavirus cases in the country were reported from the area.

After the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said the people of the country were not familiar that with lockdowns, so they would rather tighten measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in “vulnerable” areas.

Mannan also said the corona issue was discussed at the NEC meeting for more than one hour and the prime minister expressed her thoughts on it. “The main point is we have to work and take preventive measures simultaneously.”

At the meeting, the home and health ministers apprised others of measures taken to combat the outbreak, he said, adding that the PM then directed the authorities concerned to engage the mass media and celebrities in raising awareness on the issue.

She also asked officials concerned to ensure the safety of all doctors and nurses, the minister added.

Before the meeting, body temperature of all the ministers and other participants was checked using a handheld infrared thermometer. A state minister left the meeting after it was found that his temperature was high, said meeting sources.

DISCUSSION ON LOCKDOWN

Speaking at a press briefing later in the day, the health minister said a good number of people with coronavirus symptoms were detected in Faridpur and Madaripur, particularly in Shibchar upazila.

“We will go for a lockdown there if the situation worsens,” he said at the briefing at his secretariat office. “The number of expatriates and those in quarantine is higher there in comparison to other districts.”

Talking to The Daily Star, Wahidul Islam, deputy commissioner of Madaripur, confirmed that restrictions were imposed on public transport in some areas of Shibchar upazila.

Shibchar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Asaduzzaman said, “No decision on placing the entire upazila on lockdown has been taken yet. If the government decides to enforce the lockdown, we will ensure the enforcement.”

He said a good number of expatriates live in the upazila and vehicular movement was banned from Shibchar bypass area to Madaripur. Drivers of public transports have been asked to use the highway, instead of using the bypass, he said.

The UNO said they requested all to prevent all types of gatherings in the upazila and asked the owners of shops selling cosmetics, furniture, and electronics items to keep those closed.

OTHER MOVES

Meanwhile, the government cancelled leave of all officers and employees concerned of the health sector to tackle the coronavirus situation, reports BSS.

Besides, Tongi Ijtema ground will be readied to beef up the quarantine facilitates.

“All physicians, nurses, officers and employees concerned will not get their leaves until issuance of further directives,” the health minister said at the press conference yesterday.

When his attention was drawn to the issue that many returnees from abroad were not following quarantine rules, Maleque said measures were being taken to prepare the Ijtema ground to strengthen quarantine facilities under the supervision of Bangladesh Army.

He said the COVID-19 is highly contagious, so no public gathering would be allowed in the country now. “Wedding ceremonies would have to be stopped. Schools and colleges have already been shut.”

The minister urged the Muslim devotees to say their Juma prayers at home today, following the example of Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has suspended all driving licence tests till March 31 due to the prevailing coronavirus situation.

A circular, signed by BRTA Director (engineering) Lokman Hossain Mollah, was issued in this regard yesterday.

However, other services — issuance of registration and licence for learners — would be available, Lokman told The Daily Star.

In another development, all bus services between Dhaka and Rajshahi have been suspended for an indefinite period as part of efforts to tackle the outbreak.

Rajshahi Transport Owners Association made the decision yesterday afternoon, our Rajshahi staff correspondent reports quoting Motiul Haque, general secretary of the association, as saying.

Buses from Dhaka to other northern districts will operate as usual.

TK 200CR TO FIGHT SPREAD

The health ministry yesterday received an allocation of Tk 200 crore in additional funds from the finance ministry for taking necessary measures to contain the spread of coronavirus in the country and to treat patients.

The finance ministry informed the health ministry about the allocation of additional funds in a letter yesterday afternoon.

Source:

https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/fighting-coronavirus-outbreak-govt-mulls-lockdown-vulnerable-areas-1883077