Reza Mahmud:
To sestore economic activities and normal life, public health experts suggested to divide the country into three zones as per the coronavirus infections rates.
They said this will help the country continue its economic activities and normal life in vast portions which will be very helpful for the national economy.
“It is not okay to shutdown the whole country indiscriminately. Where the virus infection is below 10 there is no need to impose lockdown,” Professor Dr. M. Muzaherul Huq, former South-East Asian Regional Advisor of World Health Organisation (WHO) told The New Nation.
Dr. Muzaherul Huq said, the government should divide the country into three zones as per the ratio of the virus infection so that the normal life with economic activities continue to help the country’s economy.
The public health expert suggested that the government should conduct proper survey across the country to find out the number of infection every area.
Then the government has to divide the whole country into three zones namely Green zone, Yellow zone and Red zone.
The districts where the infection is 10 and below that may be labelled as Green zone.
Every economic and commercial activities and normal life should be allowed in the districts of ‘Green zone,’ the expert opined.
The districts which are containing 10 to 100 infected people will be marked as ‘Yellow zone’.
The Civil Surgeons will announce partial lockdown as per the infection rate of those districts.
“Normal life and business activities will continue in some areas and lockdown to be imposed in other areas as per the infection rate. The Civil Surgeon will decide it,” Dr. Muzaherul Huq said.
He said, the districts, where the Covid-19 patients are found more than 100, will be marked as ‘Red zone’.
The Civil Surgeons will announce strict lockdown in the ‘Red zone’ marked districts.
“The Civil Surgeons will decide how many days the lockdown will continue,” he said.
The Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Superintendent of Polices (SPs) will help them imposing lockdown.
Bangladesh government announced countrywide shutdown since March 26, extended several times to continue till May 30.
Besides, the public transport services will also remain suspended till May 30, the Roads and Highways Division (RHD) said it.
Since the first day of clamping shutdown, almost all the offices of government and private are remaining closed.
The factories, shops, shopping malls and restaurants have been remaining closed for about two months.
The normal lives are on hold due to the nationwide shutdown.
People from low income families are in peril as their income are closed for long.
The government has taken different measures including distributing relief amongst the poor people across the country.
But experts said imposing lockdown throughout country at the same time without conducting proper survey is not a workable decision.
“People from daily income level are suffering from distressing as the countrywide lockdown are going on for long,” Professor Dr. ABM Abdullah, Prime Minister’s Personal Physician, told The New Nation.
He said that in this circumstance, the government is trying to ease lockdown with maintaining social distancing strictly.
Bangladesh on March 8 confirmed the first COVID-19 case and the first death on March 18.
The country passed 71st day on Sunday since the first infection.
