Many wards in Kurigram municipality to go into 7-day lockdown tomorrow

Authorities have decided to impose a seven-day lockdown in several wards under Kurigram municipality from tomorrow in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus infection.

The decision was taken at a virtual meeting of the district coronavirus committee this afternoon following the high surge of coronavirus infection rate in Kurigram, said Kurigram Civil Surgeon Dr Habibur Rahman.

Talking to reporters, Mohammad Rezaul Karim, deputy commissioner of Kurigram, said "We are currently taking measures to control public gatherings and movement of people in wards 2, 3 and 7 of the municipality areas. The restriction will be effective from 5pm tomorrow for the next 7 days. Even then, if the infection is not controlled, we will go into strict lockdown."

The DC said they have decided to close all the shops, except the drug and food shops, in the hospital area of the town during the restriction.

Restrictions will be imposed on the movement of motorcycles and auto rickshaws in Zia Bazar and Municipal Bazar areas so that there is less gathering of people, he said

DC Rezaul Karim said mobile courts will be conducted in some points to control transport so that they do not enter the municipality area with extra passengers. 

"We will be monitoring for the next seven days from now. If the situation does not improve, we will go for strict lockdown later,' added the DC.

According to the district health department, nineteen people tested positive for coronavirus after conducting tests on 29 samples in the district today. Of them, 13 are residents of Sadar upazila, reports our Lalmonirhat correspondent.