Amdadul Haque
There is no other alternative but to follow hygiene rules with the long shutdown across the country set to be withdrawn on a limited scale amid the rising number of coronavirus deaths and detections.
According to sources, coronavirus infected patients have been found in every district and upazila of all the administrative divisions of Bangladesh. The capital Dhaka is the center of most infections.
Experts fear that the way in which the crowds of people moved out from Dhaka to remote villages during Eid in defiance of government directives, might raise the infection rate alarmingly.
Public health experts said that in this time of infection, the scope of urgent work could be further expanded in compliance with hygiene regulations. But exposing everything will only increase the danger. However, since it is being opened, the hygiene rules have to be strictly followed with strict monitoring.
Though coronavirus infection is slowly declining from the highest level globally, it is increasing day by day in Bangladesh. The first identification in the country was from March 8 and completed its 83rd day on Friday. The number of infections is still increasing day by day.
According to Friday's calculations, 2,523 patients have been identified in the country and 23 people died. The number of identified patients has exceeded 42,844. The death toll is 582. The corona sample testing rate is still close to 10,000 or more.
And for this reason, experts think that the correct scenario of coronavirus is not emerging in the country. According to them, sample testing is still low in terms of population. This needs to be increased. Otherwise, it will be difficult to get the right picture.
On the other hand, the coronavirus infection will increase in the next two weeks as the migration from Eid-centric villages to cities and from cities to villages increases. Even before this, the lockdown was relaxed and the garments, hat-bazaars and mosques were reopened. Therefore, experts are worried about the future of coronavirus infection in the country.
Besides, following the withdrawal of lockdown, people will return to normal life. This will naturally increase the infection. This horrible picture will come to the fore in the next one week. In addition, the entire country is still at risk of infection, according to the Department of Health.
However, ‘All government, semi-government, autonomous and non-government offices would remain open with their respective arrangements on a limited scale. People at risk, ill and pregnant women shall refrain from attending offices,’ said a circular issued by the Cabinet Division on Thursday.
The circular said that all concerned will have to strictly maintain the 13-point health guideline issued by the health services division.
‘Public transports, passenger water vessels and trains will operate carrying a fixed number of passengers in keeping with the health guideline. All will have to wear masks and follow instructions of the health division,’ it said.
The state minister for public administration, Farhad Hossain told Bangladesh Post, “We have to be habituated to some new practices and restrictions to contain the coronavirus infections effectively as we cannot afford the closure of all businesses and offices for a longer period.”
Thursday’s circular said no one shall leave work stations during the restriction period and people’s movement from one district to another would be strictly monitored by installing check-posts.
Although the government eased the ongoing restrictions early this month allowing reopening of shops and markets and movement of public transports in the city roads on a limited scale, the guideline on maintaining social distancing and cleanliness were hardly followed.
The circular said that people must stay at home to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus and no one would be allowed to go out from 8:00pm to 6:00am without an emergency. The provision is already in force, though widely violated.
It said the ban on meetings, mass gatherings and functions would remain in force. Devotees would be able to perform prayers at mosques in jamaat and in other religious institutions maintaining health guidelines.
Asked for comments, health ministry’s additional secretary Habibur Rahman Khan, also head of the media cell on COVID-19, told Bangladesh Post that the government expected that people and the authorities concerned would maintain physical distancing and health safety measures as they already became accustomed to some hygiene practices in the coronavirus situation.
To minimize the growing risk of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Thursday urged the people to strictly follow the government’s instructions after the end of the ongoing shutdown May 30.
The government has decided not to extend the general holiday and the Cabinet Division has issued a gazette notification with some important instructions, including health guidelines, which should be followed by all, he said.