Social distancing is a key health safety rule set by the experts to keep Covid-19 at bay, but most people do not care about it even when the country is facing a resurgence in coronavirus cases, as is evident in this photo, taken on Friday, of a packed holiday market at Motijheel in the city — FE photo by Shafiqul Alam Bangladesh shuts all educational institutions till February 06 and tightens restrions to stem the tide of coronavirus transmission spurred by Omicron invasion across the country.
The Cabinet Division in a new circular issued Friday said that schools, colleges and equivalent educational institutions will remain closed from January 21 to February 6, as the virus transmission gets into a galloping pace, recorded at 28.49 per cent over the last 24 hours.
"The universities will take similar measures on their own initiative," says the government notification, meaning in-person classes be shut.
"Attendance at any social, political and religious event must not exceed 100 and attendees must show their vaccine certificates or a Covid-19 negative PCR test report conducted within 24 hours," reads the release ordering the new restrictions.
Staff members at all offices and factories must also have their vaccination certificate with them.
In a media briefing at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), health minister Zahid Maleque explained why this toughening of preventive measures. He said the virus keeps spreading alarmingly across the country in recent days. As a result, one-third of the hospital beds are filled by Covid patients.
"Taking the surge into consideration, the government decided on shutting educational institutions and limiting gathering at social, political and religious events."
Mr Maleque said the government also decided to limit presence of staff in all types of offices by half and another circular regarding the matter will come soon.
"Wherever you are going to… fair, cricket match and tourist spots, you must show your vaccination certificate and Covid-19 negative PCR test report. Otherwise, you will not be allowed to get in," the minister said.
The health minister also asked local administrators in each locality to enforce the government restrictions to help stem the pandemic from spreading.
The latest spell of restrictions comes on the day when Bangladesh recorded 11,434 new cases with 12 deaths in the last 24 hours till morning hours, in the wake of a latest wave of the pandemic virus in many parts of the planet.
The latest daily tally of infections was the highest since August 09, 2021 when 11,464 people were infected. In the previous 24 hours, the number of infections was 10,888.
According to the DGHS, the latest number of confirmed cases comes after the screening of 40,134 samples in 857 labs across the country, and the daily positivity rate stood at 28.49 per cent, up from 26.37 per cent registered a day ago.
In terms of infections and fatalities, Dhaka tops the list with 7,296 new cases and 6 deaths.
With the latest data, the entire tally of Coronavirus-related fatalities rose to 28,192 while the total caseload at 1,664,616.
However, some 752 people recovered from the viral infections across the country. It took the total number of recoveries to 1,555,597.
The authorities of Dhaka University (DU) on Friday suspended in-person academic activities from January 21 to February 06 this year, according to a notification issued by the Academic Council.
The academic activities will continue online with cooperation of teachers and students, said a press release.
The release also said offices of the DU will remain open from 9am till 1pm amid maintaining health guidelines.
Utility services like electricity, water, gas, internet as well as health and cleaning services will continue as usual.
The DU authorities also advised the students to stay in their residential halls maintaining health safety rules and asked them to refrain themselves from holding procession, meeting or any kind of gathering on the campus.
UNB reports: All examinations of National University (NU) have been postponed till further notice in view of surging Covid-19 infections.
The university authorities made the announcement in a press release issued on Friday.
New schedule of the exams will be informed when the situation gets normal, the release adds.
Earlier on the day, the government instructed to keep all schools, colleges and universities of the country closed from January 21 to February 6 to contain the Covid surge.
The Cabinet Division issued a notification in the morning imposing renewed pandemic restrictions in the country amid a worrying spike in Covid-19 cases.
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