The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has said Covid-19 infection in the country is decreasing but health guidelines will be maintained till 100 percent of the population gets vaccinated. DGHS spokesperson and Director (disease control) Dr Nazmul Islam said this Sunday during the regular health bulletin of the directorate on Covid infection situation in the country. “Declining infection rate is a hopeful sign but there is no reason to feel complacency,” he said. In the last seven days 126,840 samples have been tested for Covid-19 which is 12 percent lower than the previous seven days, he said. Dr Nazmul said, the number of new infections has decreased 32 percent in the last seven days from the previous week, meanwhile the number of fatalities has decreased 21 percent. Read: 50% of vaccination target can be met by December: Health Minister In the last seven days daily infection rate mostly remained below 2 percent except on October 19 when 2.20 percent infection rate was reported, he added. “Overall the infection rate is showing a downtrend for a month which is still continuing ," said the DGHS spokesperson. Since January this year most of the infections were logged in July and August while the country saw 336,226 and 223,480 cases respectively, he said. “Compared to that, just 11,506 cases reported so far in October is quite an improvement”, said the DGHS official. Read: Prioritize senior people in vaccination, not children: Experts Number of patients in Covid dedicated hospitals have declined and people are seeking telemedicine services less now, he said. Replying to a question he said Bangladesh cannot be considered Covid-free yet as every day new patients are being detected. In the last week of the current month or at the beginning of next month they will be able to inform the total number of school going students who have registered for Covid-19 vaccine, said the DGHS director.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Monday said that the strict lockdown has been relaxed for the sake people’s lives and livelihoods, but it may be re-imposed if Covid situation worsens.  He was speaking at the signing of an agreement between the Department of Roads and Highways (DRH) and a construction company at the DRH office. Read: Begum Mujib was a co-fighter of Bangabandhu, says Quader Quader said the fare in the public transport will be the same as before the pandemic and not the recently increased fare as they will run on full passenger capacity.   The minister said both passengers and bus workers must follow hygiene and health rules and wear masks. He urged the BRTA to take necessary steps in this regard. He urged the engineers to maintain quality in road construction. He also called for restoring discipline on roads and highways. Quader, also the general secretary of Awami League, trashed BNP’s criticism of government’s mass vaccination campaign. The people have responded spontaneously to the vaccination, he said adding this is causing heartburns of BNP leaders. Read: History has forgotten those who tried to erase Bangabandhu, says Quader He urged the BNP to learn from the welfare-oriented politics of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her deep commitment to the people. However, the truth is that this party has never learnt from history, he said. Secretary of Roads and Highways Department Nazrul Islam, Chief Engineer of Roads and Highways Department, Project Director of the project Abdullah Al Mamun and other officials of the construction company were present at the signing ceremony.

Roads in the capital fell almost silent on Saturday, as law enforcers dissuaded inessential travel on the second day of the reinforced nationwide lockdown. Grappling with rising Covid-19 cases, Bangladesh reimposed strict lockdown restrictions from Friday after an eight-day break for Eid-ul-Azha. The stricter lockdown will continue till August 5 midnight. A reality check by UNB revealed that there were fewer private cars and commercial vehicles on the main roads as compared to Friday. Also read: 403 arrests on day 1 prove lockdown back in earnest

Dhaka North City Corporation will set up 10 cattle markets in its area ahead of Eid-ul-Azha maintaining Covid health rules and government restrictions, Mayor Atiqul Islam said Sunday. The mayor said this while attending a meeting with the sacrificial animal haat monitoring committee and lease holders of the haats. Ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, one permanent and nine makeshift haats will be set up in the DNCC area, he said. Also read: Authorities disperse an illegal cattle market in Panchagarh To monitor the 10 haats, a 14-member committee has already been formed including 12 councillors, 2 veterinary officers, where ward-19 councillor Md Mofizur Rahman was made the convener, he added.  Atiqul Islam said, in every haat, 100 volunteers will be appointed from the Shakti Foundation with enough surgical masks while leaseholders will ensure hand sanitizers and necessary hygiene materials in every haat. Enough number of body temperature measuring machines will be made available at the haats, he said. Also read: Authorities permit 3 makeshift cattle markets in Chattagram, set 17 conditions Traders and buyers all will have to maintain social distance and health rules in the haat as the area will be under surveillance by CCTV cameras, said the mayor. The DNCC mayor said, sacrificial animals brought in the haats will also be available online for customers to see.

Amid the alarming Covid situation in the country, a man was fined Tk 50,000 for bringing his nephew’s new bride by helicopter in Shariatpur Sadar upazila defying the health protocols in place for the pandemic. Abdus Salam Sardar, 48, was fined by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mondip Ghorai for arranging a grand procession using helicopter, band party and palanquin which risked many of contracting with the Coronavirus. Also read: 60-year-old Shariatpur man dies in isolation unit According to locals, around 11am, the grand procession reached Natun Haat bridge area where a curious mass gathered to observe it. UNO Mandip Ghorai said, for causing public gathering and violating health guidelines Abdus Salam was fined under section 259 of penal code, 1860. Also read: 11 fined in Chandpur for defying health rules

As the Covid-19 situation keeps worsening, a weeklong strict lockdown has been imposed in Kushtia district till June 27. The lockdown went into effect at midnight, said a mass notification issued by the district’s Deputy Commissioner Md Saidul Islam. Read: Week-long lockdown in Kushtia municipality areas to contain Covid spread According to the notice, all commercial institutions, factories, shops, shopping malls, restaurants and tea-stalls are ordered to remain closed during the lockdown. However, kitchen markets and shops selling daily commodities can stay open following the health guidelines from 7am to 2pm except the cattle markets. Besides, tourist spots, resorts, community centers, and recreation centers are ordered to remain shut during this time. All inter-district and long distance public transport services will remain suspended during the lockdown period. Law enforcement and other emergency services will be exempted from the public transport restriction, said the notice. Read:Busy bazar sealed off in Kushtia to prevent Covid transmission People are advised to stay home except for emergency needs, to wear masks and follow health rules during movement. The decisions were taken during an emergency virtual meeting of the district's Covid-19 prevention committee. Earlier, the district administration in two phases imposed restrictions only within the Kushtia municipal area from June 11. Meanwhile 9 more people died of coronavirus in the district in the past 24 hours. Of them eight died in Kushtia General Hospital and One in  Khoksa Upazila Health Complex. Read: Covid-19: Restrictions imposed in Kushtia Besides, 83 more tested positive 256 sample tests, according to a handout provided by the district administration on Sunday night. Considering the alarming turn of the situation, Kushtia General Hospital with 250 beds has been decided to turn into Covid-19 dedicated hospital.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed on Tuesday urged everyone to wear masks and strictly follow other hygiene rules during Eid shopping to stay safe from coronavirus. The IGP made the call at a views-exchange meeting on “What to do to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection” with the leaders of the Bangladesh Shop Owners Association in the afternoon. All police commissioners, range DIGs and district police superintendents were connected online to the meeting held at the Police Headquarters. Also read: Follow lockdown restrictions: IGP to people IGP Benazir said both shopkeepers and buyers must wear masks when shopping. Hand sanitiser or hand washing facilities have to be kept at the entrance of the shop or shopping mall. Besides, body temperature must be checked when entering the shopping mall. Social distancing must be ensured at shops, he said. The IGP requested traders, shop owners and people to properly follow health guidelines. "If we abide by the government rules and regulations, the coronavirus infection will be reduced and the death rate will also decline,” he added. Also read: Motivate people to follow govt’s covid guidelines: IGP to police Md Helal Uddin, president of Bangladesh Shop Owners Association, told the meeting that they have set up hand washing or sanitising facilities in front of each market. Face masks have been made mandatory. Disinfectant tunnels have been installed at big shopping malls. He said traders across the country are very vocal and vigilant in ensuring health protection against the virus. Additional IG (A&O) Md Moinur Rahman Chowdhury, Additional IG (Finance) SM Ruhul Amin, Additional IG (HRM) Md Mazharul Islam, DMP Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam along with senior police officers and leaders of Bangladesh Shop Owners Association were present.

Vessels will carry passengers half of their capacities and maintain health guidelines to curb the transmission of Covid-19. State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury disclosed this on Wednesday after a meeting at the Ministry of Shipping. The fares of river transports will be increased from Thursday and the new rates of fares will be fixed after a meeting with river transport owners today, he said. The state minister said passengers have to get on the launch in compliance with the health rules and legal action will be taken if the health rules are not followed. Also read: Launch, steamer services to resume Sunday on 34 river routes He also added that number of vessels will also be increased alongside fare hike. The state minister warned that punitive action will be taken against launches owners if they charge more than the amount which would be fixed by the ministry or carry additional passengers. The carrying of all types of covered vans and trucks in ferries except those carrying essential goods will remain stopped for three days before Eid and the restriction will continue till three days after Eid, said the state minister. Also read: Govt increases bus fares by 60 pc Roads from Sadarghat to Bahadur Shah Park should be kept free from traffic jams and Sadarghat terminals and launches should be kept hawker-free, said the state minister.  Passengers traveling on the waterways can contact BIWTA hotline number: 18113 for any emergency and service related matters.