Amid the growing concern over the Omicron variant of Covid-19, the government has imposed restrictions on public movement and other activities, including operating public transport at their half capacities.
The Cabinet Division on Monday issued the notification which will take effect from January 13 and remain in force until further notice.
In an effort to slow the virus transmission, the government took the decision after observing the outbreak of the Omicron variant and the overall Covid situation in the country.
The restrictions include:
• All kinds of public gatherings, including social programmes, political and religious events will remain suspended until further notice.
• People have to wear masks everywhere, including shops, shopping malls, markets, hotels and restaurants. Otherwise, she/he will face legal action.
• The mask use should be ensured in all places, including offices and courts, and mobile court drives will be conducted to prevent the violation of health guidelines.
• People must show their Covid-19 vaccination certificates while taking food in restaurants and staying in residential hotels.
• Students above 12 would not be allowed to enter educational institutions without the vaccination certificate after a specific timeframe set by the Education Ministry.
• Screening facilities must be increased at land ports, airports and maritime ports. The crewmembers of ships must not be allowed to go outside arriving at a port while only truck drivers are allowed to enter land ports with trucks. Besides, visitors along with foreign-bound passengers must not be allowed to enter airports.
• Public transport, including buses, trains and launches, can operate at half of their capacities while drivers and their assistants of all modes of vehicles must have Covid vaccination certificates.
• Passengers coming from abroad must show vaccination certificates and undergo Rapid Antigen tests upon arrival.
• Imams will make people aware about the health guidelines and the use of masks in their sermons during Jummah prayers in all mosques. Deputy commissioners and upazila nirbahi officers will ensure the matter.
• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will take necessary steps to ensure Covid-19 vaccination and accelerate booster dose inoculation. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will assist them in publicity.
• In the case of any special situation in any place, the local administration can take steps in consultation with the authorities concerned.
Covid situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is seeing a steep rise in Covid-19 cases as 2,231 more infections along with three more deaths were reported in 24 hours till Monday morning.
With the fresh cases reported after testing 26,143 samples, the daily positivity rate jumped again to 8.53 per cent from Sunday’s 6.78 per cent during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The country last logged 2,325 cases on September 10, last year along with 38 deaths in 24 hours.
The country is witnessing a surge of Covid cases as health authorities logged 10,392 infections in the last 10 days since January 1.
The fresh numbers took the country’s total fatalities to 28,105 while the caseload mounted to 15,95,931.
