Bangladesh
Restrictions To Tackle Omicron Restrictions to be imposed to tackle Omicron
Own representative, Dhaka, January 4: The government is moving to impose restrictions on a variety of activities in view of the rising cases of Corona's new variant Omicron, though there is no plan to impose complete lockdown. There will be a ban on eating in hotel-restaurants without a Covid vaccination certificate. The decision has been made to limit social, political and religious events.
Decision may also be taken on passenger transport by reducing the number of maximum passengers than the normal seating capacity in public transport. Strictness is also coming regarding the wearing of masks. Punishment will be given through mobile courts if someone is found without wearing mask.
The government presently has no plans to shut down educational institutions. Health Minister Zahid Maleque shared the information with the reporters on Monday (January 3) night after holding an inter-ministerial meeting on Omicron at the secretariat. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal was present as the chief guest in the meeting.
The health minister said a lot about Omicron and overall preparations to tackle it were discussed in the meeting. Decisions can not be taken right now. It will be informed in the cabinet. When we were asked to go to the meeting, we said that hospitals were ready. There is enough oxygen available. There are 120 central oxygen lines installed. Our vaccination drive is ongoing. We have made everything ready. Now doctors are well trained. They know how to treat Corona. They are very much experienced, even the countrymen too know that.
He said the fear is that Corona cases are rising. If I talk about today's situation, the infection rate is 3.4 percent, which had been dropped under one percent, this is alarming. Though, mortality rate is still low. But if the infection continues to rise, the death rate will also increase. We want to keep it under control.
Zahid Maleque said, "You know if Covid situation goes out of control, then the lockdown will be imposed again. Again we have to think about school-college, transport and business. There is a potential to have a negative impact on everything which we don't want."
