The Bangladesh government on Saturday decided to impose a week-long nationwide lockdown from Monday as COVID-19 cases and deaths surged across the country. Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader made the announcement at a media briefing in Dhaka today.
Bangladesh on Friday registered the highest count in a day in the new cases of the coroavirus, taking the tally of infections above six lakhs. The number of deaths climbed by 50 in 24 hours to 9,155, according to data released by the government. In a bid to arrest the spread of the coronavirus, the government has decided to enforce a seven-day lockdown from Monday as the coronavirus cases and deaths are surging across the country, Mr Quader, also the general secretary of the ruling Awami League, said. However, the order does not apply to utility and emergency services. Factories will remain open and workers can work shifts by following hygiene rules, the report said. “Every office and court will be closed during this lockdown but industries and mills will continue their operation on rotation,” State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain was quoted as saying by the Dhaka Tribune.
Meanwhile, Farhad Hossain added that they would soon issue fresh guidelines covering people and services to be exempted from the lockdown.
