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Staff Correspondent;
Dhaka – The government has extended an apparently forgotten nationwide restriction, which was imposed to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, for nearly yet another month.
The restriction will now be in place until August 31, according to a government notification issued on Monday.
Bangladesh has imposed the restriction on March 24, weeks after the South Asian country reported the first three cases of novel coronavirus, and coined the restriction as ‘holiday’ to ensure social distancing.
The first phase of restriction was, however, lifted on May 31, and since then people are see desperately travelling from one place to other to survive. Shops, businesses, factories and offices were opened with residents trying to cope up with ‘new normal’.
The latest notification issued by the Cabinet Division mentioned “the restriction will continue from August 4 to August 31. Weekly holidays will also be under the purview of the restrictions.”
Markets, shops and shopping malls must be closed within 8pm while temperature-checking and hand-washing facilities, sanitizers, vehicle disinfecting services must be ensured at entries of shopping malls and social distancing and health guidelines must be followed strictly, said the notification depicting a 10-point directives.
It said the people should be encouraged in using e-commerce platforms to purchase goods and food items.
Without very urgency (works for burying bodies or last rituals, necessary purchasing or selling including medicines, medical services and movement towards workplaces), none will be allowed to go outside home between 10pm to 5am during that period, the notification said.
Wearing face-mask is must outside of home, it said adding that keeping distancing and maintaining health guidelines must be followed by everyone.
Violators will face legal actions, it added.
Government, autonomous, private offices, banks and financial institutions, trade and commerce, industries and factories and service providing institutions would remain open maintaining the health guidelines issued by the Health Services Division (HSD) of the Health and Family Welfare Ministry.
Ill employees and expectant mothers would refrain from being present at the workplaces, the notification reiterated.
Public transport will remain open maintaining health guidelines issued by the HSD.
Ministries and divisions concerned would issue necessary directives to keep educational institutions and coaching centres shut down during the period of restrictions.
Public rallies, meetings, mass gatherings and functions will remain shit during the restriction while arrangement of programmes in virtual platforms should be given priority.
Devotees could offer their prayers at mosques and other places of worship following the directives issued by the Religious Affairs Ministry.
Movements in severely infected areas should be controlled following the guidelines and strategy of zone-wise containment system formulated by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Supply and availability of daily essentials should be ensured for mass people there while city corporations and district administrations will make overall coordination of such activities in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
Local Government Division, Information Ministry, Religious Affairs Ministry, Health Services Division, district and upazila administrations will carry out massive campaign and awareness raising activities to check the spread of the deadly Covid-19.
Ministries and divisions concerned have been requested to take necessary measures in light with the directives.
Bangladesh reported 242,102 cases of Covid-19 with 3184 deaths in the last five months.
Ends/newsnextbd.com/n
