The Health Ministry has proposed partial lockdowns for some places with higher Coronavirus transmission rates, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said Monday.

“Our daily infection rate was only 2 percent in February which has now shot up to 13 percent as the number of fatalities and infection rises daily,” he said at a virtual event of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease and Hospital.

Also read:3,000 more hospital beds to be ready for Covid patients: Minister

Coronavirus infection rate jumped to 18.38 percent on Monday from 17.65 percent on Sunday.

In the afternoon, the health authorities announced the country’s highest-ever daily cases (5,181) as the caseload rose to 600,895. Bangladesh also reported 45 deaths, raising the national tally to 8,949, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said in a handout.

“Bangladesh’s economy might face dire consequences if we fail to control the origin of Covid-19 and contain it,” the minister warned.

The Health Ministry has submitted some proposals to the government considering all these issues, Maleque said.   

Partial lockdown, closure of amusement centres, picnic, religious gatherings, limiting wedding ceremonies, strengthening quarantine system, limiting passengers in public transports, and limiting attendance in offices are some of the recommendations.

The ministry also proposed ensuring ‘no mask no service’ policy, increasing numbers of mobile courts and imposing fines on health guideline violators.

Also read:Covid-19 situation under control in Bangladesh: Health Minister

“A detailed decision on the matter can hopefully be taken within several days,” the minister said.

‘No lockdown at the moment’

The country launched a countrywide vaccination drive on Feb 7. As the daily infection rate kept rising, the government extended the closure of school and colleges until May 23.

On Monday, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain said the government at the moment is not considering general holidays like last year to tackle the transmission of coronavirus.

“There has neither been any such decision nor discussion [on the issue],” he told reporters at the Secretariat, replying to a question.

Also read:Now Bangladesh largely safe from Covid-19: Health Minister

‘Provide treatment proactively’

Meanwhile, Health Minister Maleque requested physicians of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease and Hospital to be more proactive while providing treatments.

More patients will get proper treatment at the NICVD as the government has raised the bed numbers to 1,250 from 414 and turned the four-storey hospital into an eight-storey building, he said.

Besides, works of eight specialised hospitals for cardiovascular disease in eight divisions have made significant progress, the minister said, adding that the number of beds will be raised to 1,400 after completion of these hospitals.