Bangladesh
Korbani Hat National Technical Advisory Committee recommends extension of lockdown by 14 days, concerned over relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions
Dhaka, July 15: Covid-19 infections and deaths are at its peak in the country. In this situation, the National Technical Advisory Committee on coronavirus has expressed concern over the government's decision to relax the lockdown and has recommended extending the ongoing lockdown for another 14 days. Besides, they have advised the sick people in their fifties not to go to the cattle market.
The recommendation was made after a detailed discussion at the 41st meeting of the National Technical Advisory Committee held on July 12 under the chairmanship of Professor Mohammad Sahidullah.
The six-point recommendation of the committee is: -
1. Covid-19 infection and death rates are at its peak in the country. In this situation, the committee expressed deep concern over the government's decision to relax the lockdown. The National Technical Advisory Committee recommended extending the ongoing strict lockdown for another 14 days.
2. As part of the lockdown, the committee proposed to close the sacrifical animal markets (korbani hat). If necessary, arrangements could be made to operate a digital market. However, if the government decides to relax the lockdown and operate the markets on a limited scale, it is recommended that the attached restrictions be applied.
3. The government is gradually increasing the number of Covid-19 exams across the country, which is satisfactory. The meeting thanked the government for rescheduling the RT PCR test at the private level in the light of the recommendations of the previous meeting of the National Advisory Committee. In order to increase the number of daily tests, it is necessary to increase the number of tests at the private level as well.
4. Many Covid Dedicated Hospitals currently have extra patient admissions. As a result, it is very important to set up a field hospital for medical assurance. However, the Department of Health has already taken steps to set up field hospitals at various levels. The initiative was congratulated at the meeting and requested for speedy implementation.
5. It thanked the government for getting coronavirus vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and Sinopharm alongside Oxford AstraZeneca and launching a mass vaccination drive. In order to bring more people under vaccination, it requested the government to take a quick decision on lowering the age limit for vaccination to 18 years, bringing people without NID under vaccination, facilitating registration, etc.
6. It is recommended to ensure the active participation of local people's representatives in order to make the steps taken by the government to control the Covid-19 infection a success.
