General holidays only in ‘red zones’

As Covid-19 cases and fatalities continue to rise alarmingly in Bangladesh, the government has taken all necessary preparations to bring some virus hotspots ('red zone') under lockdown and declaring general holidays there to prevent entry to and exit from those areas.

"The areas where infection rate is high will be declared as 'red zone' and general holiday will be announced in those areas, but countrywide general holidays will not be declared anymore," State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain told UNB.

"Offices will remain open as usual maintaining health guidelines even after June 15. Public transport movement will continue. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will give final approval and an order will be issued soon in this regard after her approval," he said.

The government issued a gazette notification allowing limited operation of public transport and offices from May 31 to June 15 amid the coronavirus outbreak.

But the number of cases and deaths started to rise soon after reopening of offices and resumption of public transport.

The worst-affected areas will be announced 'red zones' for 14 to 21 days, the minister said, adding that some faults were identified after bringing East Rajabazar area under experimental lockdown, and the experience will be applied for the next ones.

"Committees will be formed in locked-down areas to monitor the areas," he added. It is almost final which areas in Dhaka and other parts of the country to be declared 'red zone' and it will be announced soon, he added.

If the announcement is not made at a time, people of the 'red zones' will travel to other areas, he said, adding "A technique will be applied in this regard."

Health Ministry's media cell chief and additional secretary Md Habibur Rahman Khan told the news agency that a meeting was held on Friday, that finalised the decision about zoning. "Now a specialised team is working to finalise the zones," he added.

"The announcement over zoning will be made within a day or two so that people can't move from one place to another," he said."

Dr Abul Kalam Azad, director general, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), told the agency that local administration will start enforcing lockdowns in Dhaka and other parts of the country.

Letters have been sent to all Deputy Commissioners in this regard, he added. City corporations, municipalities and district administration may bring any area under lockdown if needed, he said, adding that the local administration of an area in Manikganj took permission yesterday for it, and permission  was given.

Earlier on Friday, Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Minister Md Tajul Islam instructed local committees of the ministry to become active after government's announcement of zonal lockdown to fight coronavirus.

Bangladesh yesterday reported 2,856 new coronavirus cases and 44 deaths, bringing the total of infections to 84,379 and deaths to 1,139.