Bangladesh has decided to impose a nationwide lockdown for a week to slow the rise in coronavirus infections, DPA cited the government as announcing on Friday. "A strict lockdown will be enforced nationwide from Monday," said an official handout issued after the country on Friday reported 108 virus deaths, the highest fatality over 24 hours since April 12. Public and private offices and transport operations, excluding emergency services, will remain shut for an initial period of seven days, according to the announcement. Cases rose after a gradual lifting of earlier anti-coronavirus restrictions. Bangladesh on Friday logged 6,830 new cases of the coronavirus, the highest count in a day, taking the tally of infections to 624,594. The death toll climbed by 50 in 24 hours to 9,155, according to data released by the government. In a bid to arrest the spread of the coronavirus, the government has decided to enforce a seven-day lockdown from Monday as the coronavirus cases and deaths are surging across the country, Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader, also the general secretary of the ruling Awami League, said. However, the order does not apply to utility and emergency services. Factories will remain open and workers can work shifts by following hygiene rules, the report said. Every office and court will be closed during this lockdown but industries and mills will continue their operation on rotation, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain was quoted as saying by the Dhaka Tribune. Asked why industries will not be closed, the minister said: "If we close the mills then the workers may have to leave their workstations and head for home." On Monday, the Prime Minister's Office issued an 18-point directive, including a ban on all public gatherings in areas with high rates of infections. In a gazette notification, it asked to limit gatherings in all types of events, including social, political and religious. It also said that buses would not be allowed to carry passengers more than half of their seating capacity and have to maintain the safety COVID-19 safety guidelines. — Agencies
