Masks once again made mandatory in public places

The government is once again making it mandatory to wear masks in all public places, including mosques and shopping malls.

In the wake of a fresh surge in Covid cases in the country, the National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) on Covid-19 made six recommendations to contain its spread.

The Cabinet Division issued a notification on Tuesday requesting all concerned to implement the recommendations of NTAC.

The recommendations include:

1. Requesting media to raise awareness among people for maintaining health guidelines

2. Making use of masks mandatory everywhere, enforcement of ‘No mask no service’ policy, ensuring social distancing and avoiding public gatherings.

3. Ensure the use of masks and maintain social distance in all religious places including mosques, temples and churches.

4. Asking people to undergo tests if they see Covid symptoms including fever, cough and cold.

5. Ensuring mask use at all shopping malls, shops, markets, and hotel-restaurants or facing legal action.

6. Imams of mosques to give sermons for maintaining health guidelines and wearing masks to all during Juma prayers.

The Cabinet also asked the authorities concerned to take the necessary steps to implement the recommendations.

Covid-19 situation

Bangladesh registered three more Covid-linked deaths with 2,087 new infections in 24 hours till Tuesday morning.

The new figures took the country’s total death toll to 29,145 while the caseload to 19,69,361, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

The daily-case positivity rate slightly increased to 15.47 per cent from Monday’s 15.20 per cent as 13,489 samples were tested during the period, said the DGHS.

The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.48 per cent. The recovery rate declined to 96.84 per cent from Monday’s 96.93 per cent as 200 patients recovered during this period.