UNB, Chattogram :
Chattogram’s district administration has imposed a ban on holding rallies and mass gatherings, including religious programmes, to contain the transmission of coronavirus.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md Mominur Rahman issued the directive in a monthly meeting at the Circuit House on Sunday afternoon as the daily Covid-19 infection rate continues to float above 10 percent. No more than 100 people will be allowed to gather at any social or political programme in clubs, community centres, convention halls, hotels or restaurants, he said.
“We’re seeing a sudden surge in infection because people aren’t following the health guidelines,” the DC said, adding that the people must maintain one-metre distance from each other at programmes held on a limited scale.
Letters have been sent to the owners of community centres and restaurants in this regard, Mominur said. “The instruction will remain in force until further notice,” he said.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque on February 15 said his ministry had sent letters to districts, directing officials concerned to impose fines on people flouting health guidelines.
Bangladesh recorded 22 more coronavirus-related deaths and 2,172 new cases in the last 24 hours until Sunday morning.
The infection rate rose to 10.29 percent which was 9.39 percent a day earlier. Covid-19 infection rate fell below 3 percent earlier this year but shot up again on February 9.
So far, the country has recorded 8,690 fatalities and 570,878 cases, according to a handout by the Directorate General of Health Services.
The mortality rate stood at 1.52 percent for the third consecutive day. Bangladesh started its countrywide vaccination drive on February 7.
By Sunday, 4,840,969 people received the first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. The second dose has to be taken between 8 and 12 weeks of the first one.
The government signed an agreement with India’s Serum Institute for acquiring 30 million doses.
Serum will provide five million doses every month between January and June. For now, people aged 40 years or above can register at www.surokkha.gov.bd.
Health Minister Maleque said the age limit would be revised when more doses will be available.
