A special drive was conducted aimed at shutting down shops, shopping malls and markets in areas under Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) by 8pm to contain the spread of Covid-19. The drive was conducted on Thursday night, the day that recorded the highest number of corona virus cases.
Led by DSCC’s executive magistrates Md Munirujjaman and AH Irfan Uddin Ahmed, the drive was conducted in busy shopping hubs like Pir Yemeni Market, Khaddar Market, Gulistan Trade Center, Dhaka Trade Center, Nilkhet Book Market, Chandni Chawk and the New Market area.
On Wednesday the country recorded 5,358 cases, the highest in months, and saw the infection rate jumping from 19.9 percent to 22.94 percent. Tuesday recorded 5,042 cases followed by the 5,181 cases on Monday.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) issued an 18-point directive on Monday to prevent the transmission of the virus, prompted by the huge rise in cases.
The Health Ministry proposed strict measures such as partial lockdowns in some crowd attracting locations with higher Covid-19 transmission rates on the same day.
The ministry further suggested shutting down of parks and other amusement locations, halting religious gatherings, restricting wedding ceremonies, imposing quarantine strategies, limiting office attendees etc.
They also recommended that the ‘no mask, no service’ policy be maintained strictly and people violating the guidelines be fined.
However, it can be seen that a large number of people are still reluctant to abide by Covid protocols, putting not only themselves but others around them at risk as well.
