Staff Reporter :
Government is set to go into one week full lockdown from Monday to curb alarming rise of Covid-19 cases and fatalities in the country.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Saturday said the government will start the nationwide lockdown as part of its strategies curbing the new wave of the pandemic.
He made the announcement in a regular press briefing from his home in the morning.
The lockdown announcement has come after the country witnessed record 6,830 covid cases on Friday.
On Thursday the cases were 6,469, while 5,358 on Wednesday, 5,042 on Tuesday and 5,181 on Monday.
The country on Friday also recorded the highest ever deaths – 46.43% – since the pandemic broke out in March last year.
Besides, Friday’s test positivity rate was 23.28 which was the highest record in the last seven months.
State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain said to media, “Public and private offices and courts will be closed during this lockdown, but industries and factories will continue to operate following health safety guidelines.”
Replying to a query about keeping factories open, the State Minister said, “If the factories keep closed, the workers may have to leave for home which may create anarchies.”
The State Minister also said that emergency services would remain open during the lockdown.
He said the public and private transport movement will come under restrictions. Only emergency vehicles will run.
UNB adds: Meanwhile, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain said the decision for a countrywide lockdown for seven days would come within “two to three days”.
In a video message, he said the institutions providing emergency services would be open during the lockdown.
“Industries and factories will remain open too,” he said. “Workers will have to follow health guidelines and work in shifts (during that period).”
The daily surge prompted the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to issue an 18-point directive on March 29 to prevent the virus’ transmission.
On the same day, the Health Ministry proposed strict measures like partial lockdowns for some places with higher Covid-19 transmission rates.
