The government will begin imposing area-based restrictions to contain coronavirus outbreak soon as a circular is likely to be issued in the next week, sources said.
The move follows the government’s plan to divide the infected areas into three zones -- red, yellow and green – based on the intensity of the virus outbreak.
A complete lockdown will be in force in red zones to be considered as high-risk areas where everything including religious institutions will be closed and strict law enforcement
Police will be on duty round the clocks with mobile court in operation to ensure the firm implementation of the government’s instruction on stay-home and health guidelines, said an official on condition of anonymity.
Restrictions will be relaxed in yellow zones with no restraints in green zones, which will have the lowest numbers of virus cases.
According to sources at Prime Minister Office, if the rates of virus infections rise, government may announce general holidays on specific areas in addition to the lockdown to contain the Covid-19 outbreak.
The authorities concerned, however, will observe five to seven days before calling the shots on restrictions and lockdown since.
As the numbers of coronavirus cases have risen significantly, authorities are mulling to impose new restrictions soon.
If rise of virus cases continues, the health system may collapse, said a senior officer at the health ministry.
As a result, the government may opt for “community isolations” instead of isolating individuals, said the official, who wished to go unnamed.
State Minister for Public Administration Ministry Forhad Hossain, however, said if the situation worsens severely, the government will have no alternative except to impose lockdown and announce general holidays again.
On May 31, the government relaxed the communication shutdown more than two months after it went tough in mid-May to stem the spread of Covid-19 the disease caused by coronavirus.
As of Thursday, more than 6,535,000 people so far have been infected with coronavirus and over 386,464 died, according to John Hopkins University, with Bangladesh reporting 57,563 confirmed and 781 deaths.