Covid-19 lockdown
Export oriented factories to remain open amid ‘strict lockdown’
Readymade garment and all other export-oriented factories will remain open during the nationwide ‘strict lockdown’ which is set to begin on Monday.
Sources Bangladesh Garment Exporters and Manufacturers Association (BGMEA) confirmed the news to UNB citing a circular issued by the organisation.
“Export-oriented factories will not remain under the purview of the lockdown. However, strict health protocols should be maintained in keeping the factories open.” the circular read.
Also read: Army may be deployed to enforce lockdown, hints state minister
Earlier on Saturday, Bangladesh Garments Buying House Association sent an application to the Cabinet Secretary Khondokar Anwarul Islam requesting permission to keep the factories operational on a limited scale during the lockdown.
The leaders of the organisation also said that they have received a positive response from the government.
Earlier on Friday, Press Information Department Principal Information Officer Surath Kumar Sarker said that the government is going to enforce a new nationwide "strict lockdown" on Monday.
Also read: Strict nationwide lockdown in Bangladesh from Monday as Covid situation worsens
The restrictions will remain in place for seven days unless extended.
Government and private offices, barring those of emergency services, will remain closed during this period.
All modes of transport, except those carrying emergency goods, will also remain suspended and nobody will be allowed to go out unless there is an emergency.
Army may be deployed to enforce lockdown, hints state minister
The army may be deployed to enforce the upcoming nationwide "strict lockdown" from Monday, hinted the State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain.
"Police and the Border Guard of Bangladesh (BGB) will ensure strict enforcement of the lockdown and the army may also be deployed," he told UNB.
Read: Coronavirus: 2,500 Army members aiding local administration
"Initially the lockdown will be imposed for seven days, which may be extended further depending on the Covid-19 situation," the minister added.
Earlier on Monday, Press Information Department Principal Information Officer Surath Kumar Sarker disclosed that the government is going to enforce a new nationwide "strict lockdown" from Monday.
Read: Coronavirus: Army warns of tough action from Thursday
The restrictions will remain in place for seven days, he added.
Government and private offices, barring those of emergency services, will remain shut during this period.
All modes of transport, except those carrying emergency goods, will also remain suspended and nobody will be allowed to go out unless there is an emergency.
However, the restrictions will not apply to the media, ambulances, and vehicles used for medical purposes.
The Cabinet Division will come up with details regarding the "strict lockdown" on Saturday, Surath said.
Strict nationwide lockdown in Bangladesh from Monday as Covid situation worsens
The government is going to enforce a new nationwide "strict lockdown" on Monday, as the country grapples with a surge in coronavirus cases and fatalities with the highly infectious Delta variant playing havoc.
The restrictions will remain in place for seven days, said Press Information Department Principal Information Officer Surath Kumar Sarker.
Government and private offices, barring those of emergency services, will remain shut during this period.
All modes of transport, except those carrying emergency goods, will also remain suspended and nobody will be allowed to go out unless there is an emergency.
Also read: From bad to worse: Bangladesh reports 108 new Covid deaths, 5,869 cases
However, the restrictions will not apply to the media, ambulances, and vehicles used for medical purposes.
The Cabinet Division will come up with details regarding the "strict lockdown" on Saturday, Surath said.
The repeated lockdowns have become a threat to the livelihoods of many in Bangladesh while disrupting travel and social lives.
However, experts hope that stricter rules will bring positivity rates and fatalities down as the country is battling to get a second coronavirus wave under control.
Also read: Bangladesh may see dreadful Covid peak ahead of Eid, experts warn
The National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19 pandemic on Thursday recommended imposing a "nationwide shutdown" for two weeks considering the worsening Covid-19 situation in the country.
Community transmission of the highly transmissible Delta variant of coronavirus might be the reason behind the current Covid-19 situation in the country, said the committee.
It used the example of India to emphasise that no step other than a "complete shutdown" might be enough to prevent the spread of the Delta variant.
Bangladesh has seen a spike in coronavirus infections and fatalities in recent weeks, with the country reporting its second-highest fatalities – 108 new deaths – and 5,869 cases Friday. It has now seen 878,804 cases and 13,976 deaths.
Bangladesh may see dreadful Covid peak ahead of Eid, experts warn
Amid the rise in Covid cases triggered by local transmission of the Delta variant, experts predict that Bangladesh may see the peak of the current wave of the deadly virus in the third week of July next.
Using a mathematical model, Bangladesh Como Modelling Group, a panel of local and international health experts, also said the number of daily cases is likely to cross 10,000-mark in mid-July, putting a serious pressure on the country’s healthcare system.
They, however, said the severity of the virus infection and fatality rates during the probable peak on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha will depend on the effectiveness of preventive measures, management of cattle markets and control on public movement.
The experts appreciated the government’s move to isolate Dhaka from other parts of the country by suspending road, rail and waterway communications, saying that it may help slow down the virus transmission.
Prevailing situation
Bangladesh reported 20.27% positivity rate and 1.59% fatality rate on Wednesday, the highest since April 21.
DGHS spokesperson Dr Robed Amin said the Covid-19 situation has worsened in the country as the virus has been spreading fast in bordering and other areas of the country. “The number of cases and deaths are gradually rising."
He said they fear that a terrible situation lies ahead if people do not strictly maintain the health safety rules.
Robed said the virus transmission has been showing a gradual upward trend from June 16 and the death rate is now very high.
He said over 70,000 people were diagnosed with Covid this month due to the outbreak of the virus in the frontier areas.
Also read: Advisory committee suggests complete shutdown in Bangladesh for minimum 14 days
Robed said the Corona situation has deteriorated in Barishal, Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Mymensingh and Rangpur divisions over the last one week.
He said the virus infection has declined in Rajshahi while Sylhet is in a somewhat stable condition. “Khulna division witnessed the highest number of Covid deaths over the last one week.”
The DGHs spokesman said there are many empty beds and ICUs in government and private hospitals in different parts of the country, including Dhaka, but the picture of hospitals in border areas is different as most of them are overwhelmed.
Advisory committee suggests complete shutdown in Bangladesh for minimum 14 days
The National Technical Advisory Committee on the Covid-19 pandemic recommended that a complete nationwide ‘shutdown’ be enforced for at least two weeks to deal with the worsening Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh.
Community transmission of the highly transmissible Delta variant of coronavirus might be the reason behind deterioration in the Covid-19 situation in the country, said the committee in a media release.
The committee used the example of India as areference to emphasize that no step other than a complete shutdown might be enough to prevent the spread of the Delta variant of the virus.
Also read: Rapid rise in Bangladesh’s Covid cases, 81 more die
“Everything, including offices, courts and businesses, need to be closed for at least 14 days. Otherwise, no other steps taken by the government will be enough to contain the virus,” the committee said.The committee also recommended that at least 80 % of the population should be brought under the vaccination drive, aiming to bring back normal life.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh recorded 6,058 newinfections and 81 deaths in the last 24 hours until Thursday morning.
Also read: Countries like Bangladesh need support for vaccine production: FM
This is the highest number of single-day positive cases in 73 days since April 12.
However, the positivity rate fell slightly to19.93 % on Thursday and the death rate remained static at 1.59 %.
Restrictions imposed in Chapainawabganj for another week
Chapainawabganj district administration has extended the ongoing restrictions for another week, till June 30.
A media release from the Deputy Commissioner's (DC) office said this Wednesday.
All shops would remain open from 9 am to 5 pm, hotels-restaurants from 6 am to 10 pm.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh reports 85 more deaths, positivity rate crosses 20%
Public transports were instructed to run at half the capacity.
All inter-district transports except those carrying mangoes would remain suspended during this time, said the media release.
Also read: 16 more Covid patients die at Rajshahi hospital
All gatherings were prohibited and a maximum of 20 people at a time could attend prayers at the mosque.
Due to the rise of coronavirus infection rate restrictions in the district have been imposed since June 8.
Nationwide lockdown not needed if transmission in Dhaka, nearby districts is controlled: DGHS
The countrywide lockdown will not be necessary if Covid-19 transmission can be controlled in Dhaka and its adjacent districts, says the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
DGHS spokesperson Dr Robed Amin came up with the remark at its daily virtual briefing on Covid-19 on Wednesday.
“We’re observing the infection rates both in Dhaka and the surrounding districts. If the situation worsens in the capital first, a lockdown will be imposed in Dhaka and then across the country,” he said.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh reports 85 more deaths, positivity rate crosses 20%
In response to a question about vaccines, Dr Amin said Bangladesh has a shortage of Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine doses.
“Such deficit is there across the world. Although many stakeholders have assured us of providing vaccines from their stocks, nothing is final until we receive those,” he said.
Dr Amin said the vaccine that Oxford has is the vector vaccine and many other organizations have such vaccines.
Also read: 16 more Covid patients die at Rajshahi hospital
“For example, there is a vaccine that comes from the Russian research institute Gamalia Research Institute, another from the Chinese biopharmaceutical company Cancino, and Johnson & Johnson also has a similar one in the United States. Even if we get such alternative vaccines, it will be possible to solve the problem of the second dose vaccine in the country,” the DGHS spokesperson added.
Covid-19: Bangladesh reports 85 more deaths, positivity rate crosses 20%
Health authorities logged 5,727 more new Covid-19 cases in Bangladesh with a positivity rate of 20.27% in 24 hours until Wednesday morning as the Coronavirus keeps wreaking havoc on the country in its 2nd wave.
This is the highest number of cases registered in a single day since 13 April.
The positivity rate in the country rose to 20.27% from Tuesday’s 19.36%, according to a handout of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Besides, the deadly virus claimed the lives of 85 more people during the 24-hour period, bringing the national tally to 13,787.
This is the highest since 20 April when the country logged 88 deaths in a single day.
The fresh cases pushed up the total caseload to 8,66,877, the handout added.
However, the mortality rate remained static at 1.59%.
So far, 791,553 people have recovered from the virus infections with 3,168 new ones.
Among the recent deceased, 55 were men and 30 were women. Of them, 10 between 31-40, 11 between 41-50, 18 between 51-60 and 46 were above 60 years of old.
The highest number of 36 deaths were recorded in Khulna division followed by Dhaka and Rajshahi with 19 and 18 deaths respectively.
Also read: Nationwide lockdown not needed if transmission in Dhaka, nearby districts is controlled: DGHS
The number of deaths was 7 in Chattogram, 3 in Mymensingh and 1 each in Barishal and Rangpur.
How to avert nationwide lockdown
The countrywide lockdown will not be necessary if Covid-19 transmission can be controlled in Dhaka and its adjacent districts, says the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
DGHS spokesperson Dr Robed Amin came up with the remark at its daily virtual briefing on Covid-19 on Wednesday.
“We’re observing the infection rates both in Dhaka and the surrounding districts. If the situation worsens in the capital first, a lockdown will be imposed in Dhaka and then across the country,” he said.
Lockdown extended in Rajshahi
Lockdown was extended for another week in Rajshahi city on Wednesday in an effort to bring the worsening coronavirus situation under control.
Abdul Jalil, deputy commissioner of Rajshahi, made the announcement following a meeting at his office on Wednesday afternoon.
Now the lockdown, which started on June 11, will remain in force until June 30.
Also read: Let's see what can be done, have patience: PM about vaccine management
Rajshahi recorded 18 new Covid-related deaths in 24 hours, according to the DGHS handout.
A total of 245 people have died of Covid-19 at the corona unit of Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital in the last 23 days, according to sources.
36 deaths in Khulna!
Covid-19 continues to choke lives out of the residents of Khulna as 36 people died in the division in the last 24 hours, the highest in the country.
At Khulna General Hospital, some 156 patients are currently undergoing treatment at the corona unit.
Of them, 98 people are getting treatment in the red zone of the hospital, 22 in the yellow zone, 20 in ICU (intensive care unit), and 16 in HDU (high deficiency unit), reported our correspondent citing hospital sources.
Lockdown in Natore extended till June 29
As the Covid-19 situation in Natore district is out of control, the local administration has extended the ongoing lockdown in eight municipalities by another week till June 29.
Deputy Commissioner of Natore district Shamim Ahmed announced it after a meeting on Tuesday night.
As per the decision of the meeting, the restriction will be in place from 6 am on June 23 to 6 pm June 29.
Also read: 8-day lockdown in Fatikchhari begins tomorrow
During the lockdown, all modes of public transport will stay off the roads. However, the movement restrictions won't apply to vehicles providing emergency services.
Moreover, all shops, markets and restaurants will remain closed, except for grocery stores and pharmacies. This is to allow people to buy their daily essentials and medicines from their local grocers and chemists.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh reports 76 more deaths, 4,846 fresh cases
Earlier, the local administration imposed restriction in two municipalities—Sadar and Singra municipalities—in two phases from June 9.
Amid a desperate bid to procure vaccines for all, Bangladesh reported 76 fresh coronavirus-related deaths and 4,846 new cases in the past 24 hours on Tuesday.
New restrictions in Chattogram: Shops to close by 8 pm
All shops and markets in the port city except medical stores have been ordered to close by 8 pm from Wednesday as the administration imposed new restrictions to combat increasing corona virus.
The decision was taken on Tuesday considering the health risks posed by Covid-19, said deputy commissioner Mominur Rahman.
All types of public gatherings including mezban, wedding parties will remain suspended during this period in the district.
Restaurants and eateries will operate at half the capacity.
At least 12 mobile courts will conduct drives to ensure that people wear masks and follow health protocols. Anyone violating the restrictions face penalty,
The devotees have been asked to maintain social distance while offering prayer and enter the mosques only after hand sanitization.
Also read: 8-day lockdown in Fatikchhari begins tomorrow
The community centres located in city corporation areas and different upazilas have been warned to refrain from arranging any marriage or other social programmes and if found involved in violating the order they will be penalised.
The entrance of Patenga sea beach will also remain shut from Wednesday as no one can enter the area, said DC.
Besides, the mobile court drives of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) will ensure the health guidelines on public transport.
Chattogram Civil Surgeon Dr. Sheikh Fazle Rabbi, said so far 662 people have died of Covid-19 and of them, 643 died in the city while the rest died in different upazilas of the district.
Covid-19 situation
As the Coronavirus situation continues to worsen in Bangladesh creating new hotspots outside capital Dhaka, health authorities logged 4,846 more new cases with a positivity rate of 19.36% in 24 hours until Tuesday morning.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh reports 76 more deaths, 4,846 fresh cases
The positivity rate in the country rose to 19.36% from Monday’s 19.27 per cent, said a handout of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Besides, the deadly virus claimed the lives of 76 more people during the 24-hour period, bringing the national tally to 13,702.
The fresh cases pushed up the total caseload to 8,61,150, the handout added.
However, the mortality rate remained static at 1.59%.