Closure only in coronavirus ‘red zones’: state minister
As coronavirus cases and fatalities continue to rise in Bangladesh, the government has taken all necessary preparations to bring hotspots (red zone) under lockdown and will declare closure in those areas to prevent entry and exit.
The areas where infection rate is high will be declared "red zone" and closure will be announced in those areas but countrywide shutdowns will not be declared any more, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain told UNB.
"Offices will remain open as usual, maintaining health guidelines even after June 15. Public transport will continue. We've taken a decision in this regard. 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 number of coronavirus cases and deaths started to rise soon after reopening of offices and resumption of public transport movement.
The worst affected areas will be announced red zones for 14 to 21 days. Some issues were identified after bringing East Rajabazar under experimental lockdown and the experience will be applied to the next ones, the state minister said.
"Committees will be formed in lockdown areas to monitor the locality," he added.
The areas in Dhaka which will be declared red zones have been almost finalised and will be announced soon, he said.
Health ministry's media cell chief and additional secretary Md Habibur Rahman Khan told UNB that a meeting was held yesterday where decision about zoning was finalised.
"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 UNB that local administration will start enforcing lockdown 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 today for it and permission was given.
Earlier on Friday, Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Minister Md Tajul Islam instructed the local committees of the ministry to become active after government's announcement of zonal lockdown to fight coronavirus.
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