News Desk :
The government will administer Covid-19 booster doses to senior citizens aged above 60, but the date for the campaign has not yet been decided, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said on Tuesday.
“We will sit later to set the date. We have a plan to provide booster dose to those who are seriously ill,” he said while talking to reporters after an inter-ministerial meeting on Covid-19 at the ministry.
He said the meeting discussed measures on how to prevent Omicron, a new powerful variant of the infection, from entering the country and contain its spread, reports UNB.
The minister said the government is recommending a ban on flights from African countries and discouraging travelers arriving from Africa in a move to stem the infections.
“Those who still arrive will be placed under institutional quarantine under the watch of the military,” he said adding that this applies also for passengers from European countries. Vigilance along the borders will be strengthened.
“Many people have come and go to our neighbouring country and we have discussed restricting public movement in bordering areas,” he said.
Zahid listed a number of other measures the meeting has decided to take in tackling the virus. Deputy Commissioners will be asked to ensure that social, political and religious programmes are conducted on a limited scale. Besides, directives have been given to conduct mobile court drives to ensure the use of masks and slap fines for breaches, he said adding “Our health department has been asked to form a national monitoring cells in all districts and upazilas and take decisions instantly.”
He also urged people to arrange virtual meeting instead of physical presence.
“We are going to introduce no vaccine, no service system because we have found some people reluctant to be jabbed,” he added.
“We have brought school students, slum dwellers and people from all walks of life under vaccination programme. Our move of ‘no vaccine no service’ is to accelerate the vaccination programme so that people come forward to get the jab.”
Replying to a question Zahid said “We will send letters to all ministries and they will enforce it.”
Zahid said the country is now better prepared with hospital treatment of Covid patients than before.
