The health directorate requested those who had left Dhaka for Eid to return after 14 days.

"Those who have gone home and their workplaces haven't opened yet, there is no harm in returning late, and they should return to Dhaka at least after 7 to 14 days," Nazmul Islam, spokesperson of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said during a virtual briefing yesterday afternoon.

About the mad rush to go home before Eid, Nazmul said, "The government had advised all not to travel this Eid. But as we have seen, a large number of people ignored this advice and went home … We saw some tragic scenes also."

Urging all to maintain health safety guidelines, he asked those who have Covid symptoms to get tested at the nearest upazila health complex or district hospitals.

He said six people have so far been found to be carrying the more contagious Indian variant of the novel coronavirus.

"Five of them are in good health. We did not find anyone who came in contact with them to be infected," Nazmul said.

Expressing concern about India returnees, he said, "We have seen some of those coming from India breaking the law and fleeing. They should not do this. Don't put lives of others at risk."

The DGHS has been putting all Indian returnees in institutional quarantine for 14 days.

Meanwhile, 25 people have died from Covid-19 during the 24 hours ending at 8:00am yesterday, according to a press release from the DGHS.

The total number of deaths from the virus is now 12,149 and the death rate stands at 1.56 percent.

At least 363 new infections were recorded, taking the total number of people infected to 7,80,159.

The positivity rate was 6.69 percent.

A total of 5,430 samples were tested across the country in the 24 hours.

At least 601 Covid-19 patients recovered during this period.

The total number of recoveries now stands at 7,22,036 and the recovery rate is at 92.55 percent.

Among the 25 deceased, 18 were men and seven women. Two were between 31 and 40 years old; four between 41 and 50; six between 51 and 60; and 13 were above 60 years old, added the release.