Covid in Border Areas: Restrictions imposed in 3 districts
In the wake of skyrocketing Covid-19 cases in bordering areas, partial lockdown and night-time travel restrictions were imposed in three more districts yesterday, while Satkhira will go into a seven-day lockdown from tomorrow.
Deputy Commissioner of Satkhira SM Mostafa Kamal made the announcement yesterday after a meeting of "District Coronavirus Prevention Committee" at his office.
Shops of daily essentials will remain open for three hours from 9:00am during the lockdown that will exempt pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, ambulances and other offices of emergency services, said the DC.
Operations of inter-district buses and motorbikes will remain suspended during the lockdown and police vigilance will be beefed up, he added.
Earlier in 24 hours from Wednesday to Thursday, 93 people tested positive in Satkhira.
The current infection rate in the district is 53.19 percent, whereas the rate was 41pc last week and 12-13 percent in the first two weeks of last month.
Public negligence in following health safety guidelines and cross-border movement through Bhomra land port are the main reasons for rising the infection rate, said the District Coronavirus Prevention Committee.
In Noagaon, a seven-day lockdown was enforced in Noagaon municipality and Niamatpur upazila from yesterday, said Superintendent of Police Abdul Mannan Miah.
The Rajshahi district administration imposed restrictions on all night-time outdoor activities for seven days from yesterday evening.
Except emergency services and agricultural activities, all sorts of outdoor activities will remain suspended from 7:00pm to 8:00am, announced DC Abdul Jalil on Wednesday.
At least nine people died from Covid-19 at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital in 24 hours since 9:00am on Wednesday.
With this, 77 people, who were either infected with the virus or had symptoms of Covid-19, died in the hospital in the last 11 days.
In Jhenidah, a seven-day lockdown was enforced in Bauli village under Moheshpur upazila from yesterday as the village is frequently used for cross-border movement.
Besides, a 15-day night-time travel restrictions have been imposed on nearby Swaruppur, Nepa, Kazirber, Bashbaria and Jadabpur unions of the upazila to prevent the spread of the Indian variant of Covid-19.
In another development, Border Guard Bangladesh personnel has stepped up vigilance in Thakurgaon to end illegal crossing of border, said Maksud Ahmed, commanding officer of BGB in the district.
So far, 1,705 people have tested positive and 36 have breathed their last in the district till yesterday.
Contacted, Civil Surgeon Mahfuzar Rahman Sarkar said multiple measures have been taken to deal with the rising number of Covid-19 patients.
He also expressed concern as the district's healthcare system is suffering from a lack of manpower and other logistic facilities like liquid oxygen plant and ventilator.
Another bordering district Chapainawabganj passed the 10th day of lockdown yesterday.
As operations of public transport remained suspended, many people were seen trying to travel on microbuses, trucks and auto-rickshaws.
Mobile courts and law enforcers remained vigil to enforce the lockdown. Shops of essential commodities and mango markets are outside the purview of the lockdown.
In Kushtia, 47 new Covid-19 cases were found in 24 hours ending at 8:00pm on Thursday. The figure was 51 the previous day.
The current infection rate in the district is 25 percent, said health officials concerned.
[Our correspondents from respective districts contributed to this report.]
Comments