The National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) on Covid-19 has placed five recommendations to contain Covid-19 in Bangladesh. The committee issued the recommendations following its 59th meeting held on Saturday. The committee recommended the government to take initiatives to reduce the cost of Covid-19 tests at the private level, according to a press release. It also urged people to follow hygiene rules, including ensuring wearing of masks and hand washing or use of sanitizers in all places, including social gatherings and meetings. Read: First dose of Covid-19 vaccine won’t be administered after Oct 3: Health Minister It has suggested all to avoid holding meetings in confined spaces and to conduct office meetings virtually as much as possible. Besides, those who are not vaccinated with three doses against Covid-19 were urged to take the jabs as soon as possible. Covid-19 in Bangladesh Bangladesh reported 141 more Covid-19 cases in 24 hours till Saturday morning. Read: Covid deaths lowest since pandemic began: WHO With no new deaths reported, the country's total fatalities remained unchanged at 29,339 while with the new infection, caseload rose to 2,017,087, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The daily case test positivity rate declined to 9.66 per cent from Friday’s 10.87 per cent as 1,460 samples were tested. The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.45 percent while the recovery rate increased to 97.18 per cent.

In the wake of fresh surge in Covid cases in the country, the National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) on Covid-19 placed six recommendations to contain its spread. The Cabinet Division issued a notification on Tuesday requesting all concerned to implement the recommendations of NTAC. Read:Health Minister concerned over uptick in Covid, urges return to protocols The recommendations include: 1. Requesting media to raise awareness among people for maintaining  health guidelines 2. Making use of mask mandatory everywhere, enforcement of ‘No mask no service’ policy, ensure social distancing and avoid public gatherings. 3. Ensure use of mask and maintain social distance in all religious places including mosques, temples and churches. 4. Asking people to undergo Covid-19 test if they see Covid symptoms including fever, cough and cold. 5. Ensuring mask use at all shopping malls, shops, markets, hotel-restaurants or facing legal action. 6. Imams of mosques to give sermons for maintaining health guidelines and wearing masks to all during Juma prayers. The Cabinet also asked the authorities concerned to take necessary steps to   implement the recommendations. Covid-19 situation Bangladesh registered three more Covid-linked deaths with 2,087 new infections in 24 hours till Tuesday morning. The new figures took the country’s total death toll to 29,145 while the caseload to 19,69, 361, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The daily-case positivity rate slightly increased to 15.47 per cent from Monday’s 15.20 per cent as 13,489 samples were tested during the period, said the DGHS. The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.48 per cent. The recovery rate declined to 96.84 per cent from Monday’s 96.93 per cent as 200 patients recovered during this period. In May, the country reported only four Covid-linked deaths and 816 new cases, while 7,356 patients recovered from the disease, according to the DGHS. Among the four deaths during the period, one was vaccinated with a single dose of Covid vaccine while three were vaccinated with two doses. Read: Bangladesh sees 3 more Covid deaths, 2,087 new cases The country reported its first zero Covid death in a single day on November 20 last year, along with 178 cases, since the pandemic broke out here in March 2020. On January 28, Bangladesh logged its previous highest positivity rate of 33.37 per cent. The country registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 in the same year.

The National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) on Covid-19 has placed five recommendations to contain the current Covid surge in Bangladesh. The committee issued the recommendations following its 53rd meeting held on Wednesday. Read:Covid spreading fast in Bangladesh; infection rate hits 25.11% The recommendations are: - Covid-19 positive patients will remain in isolation for up to 10 days after showing covid symptoms. Besides, people who come in contact with Covid patients with no symptoms do not need to be quarantined, but they must wear a tight mask. - The committee recommended the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) to increase surveillance in all ports of entry, including airports, to ensure proper health guidelines issued by the government. - All-time emergency treatment of all Covid-19 and non-Covid patients in all government hospitals is recommended to be ensured. - It is recommended to take steps for the implementation of the Cabinet’s notification regarding covid restrictions by involving all stakeholders such as leaders of Transport Owners’ Association, Shop Owners’ Association, and Restaurant Owners’ Association. - The committee recommended the government to distribute free masks to the public to ensure that people wear masks. It is also recommended to the public representatives and religious representatives to encourage people to wear masks properly and follow other hygiene rules. Covid situation in Bangladesh Bangladesh reported 12 more Covid-linked deaths with 9,500 fresh cases in 24 hours till Wednesday morning following a continuous rise in its infection rate. Read: Covid in Bangladesh: 10 more districts designated ‘red zones’ The positivity rate in the country further increased to 25.11 per cent from Tuesday’s 23.98 per cent after testing 37,573 samples, according to the Directorate general of health Services (DGHS). The fresh numbers took the country’s total fatalities to 28,176 while the caseload mounted to 1,642, 294 on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s total tally of Omicron cases reached 55 with the detection of 22 more cases till Monday, according to GISAID, a global initiative on sharing all influenza data.