Govt extends restrictions over Covid-19 till Aug 31

The government on Monday issued an order extending countrywide restrictions on public activities and movements until August 31 to contain spread of novel coronavirus.

The Cabinet Division issued a notification mentioning "the restriction will continue from August 4 to August 31. The weekly holidays will also be under the purview of the restrictions."

Markets, shops, and shopping malls must be closed by 8:00pm. The authorities concerned must ensure temperature-checking and hand-washing facilities, sanitizers, and vehicle disinfecting services at the entries to shopping malls. Besides, social distancing and health guidelines must be followed strictly, said the notification which contains a 10-point directive.

It said people should be encouraged in using e-commerce platforms to purchase goods and food items.

During this period, none will be allowed to go outside of home between 10:00pm and 5:00am except for urgent activities (works for burying bodies or last rituals, necessary purchasing or selling, including medicines, medical services and movement towards workplaces), the notification said.

Wearing face mask, keeping social distancing and maintaining health guidelines are a must for everyone while staying outside of home. Otherwise, the rule violators will face legal actions.

The government, autonomous, and private offices, banks and financial institutions, trade and commerce, industries and factories and service-providing institutions would remain open maintaining health guidelines issued by the Health Services Division (HSD) of the health ministry.

All employees and expectant mothers would refrain from being present at workplaces.

All kinds of transportation services, including public transport, will remain open maintaining health guidelines issued by the HSD.

The ministries and divisions concerned would issue necessary directives to keep educational institutions and coaching centres shut during the restriction period.

All kind of rallies, meetings, mass gatherings and functions would remain stopped during the restriction while arrangement of programmes in virtual platforms should be given priority.

Devotees can offer 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 the people while city corporations and district administrations will make overall coordination of such activities in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

The Local Government Division, information ministry, religious affairs ministry, Health Services Division, and the district and upazila administrations will carry out massive awareness campaigns to check the spread of Covid-19.

Ministries and divisions concerned have been requested to take necessary measures in line with the directives.