By Sumi Khan
Dhaka, Jun 16 (IANS): With the highest number of deaths due to Covid-19 recorded in a day so far, the Bangladesh Army is set to patrol the red zone areas, the Inter Services Public Relation Directorate (ISPR) said in a statement on Tuesday.
Bangladesh military patrols in red zone areas are being intensified to ensure compliance with government directives.
The government has taken initiatives to put the worst-hit Covid-19 areas under lockdown to stop further spread of the virus.
As many as 53 people have died from coronavirus infection in the last 24 hours in Bangladesh, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said on Tuesday. This is the highest number of deaths due to Covid-19 recorded in a day so far in the country.
The death toll now stands at 1,262 with the death rate at 1.34 per cent, Dr Nasima Sultana, Additional Director General (administration) of DGHS, said during a briefing.
The country had another bad news: as many as 3,862 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 24 hours. This is also the highest number of infections recorded in a day so far.
The latest figures take the total number of infections in the country to 94,481.
Some areas of the two city corporations in Dhaka, Chattogram, Narayanganj, Narsingdi and Gazipur have been marked as 'red zones' to contain the spread of coronavirus. As many as 17 areas are under the capital Dhaka North City Corporation while 28 are under Dhaka South City Corporation.
In addition, 11 areas are in the port city of Chattogram, the entire Gazipur district, and a few areas of Narayanganj and Narsingdi have also been identified as red zones.
The areas marked as 'red zones' by the authorities will be placed under a 21-day lockdown. All offices and businesses in 'red zones' are to remain shut, said the government in a press release.
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) of Bangladesh has said the 'red zone' status of those areas could change as and when the situation improves.
In a notification issued on Monday, the Bangladesh government said offices in 'yellow' and 'green' zones, however, would be able to operate on a limited scale. Public movement would remain prohibited from 8pm to 6am. No one would be allowed to leave their homes unless there is an emergency, according to the notification.
Wearing masks outdoors also remains mandatory, it said and urged citizens to follow the health guidelines before warning that legal actions would be taken against those not wearing masks in public.
A general holiday will be observed in the 'red' and 'yellow' zone areas. The capital's East Raja Bazar area is already observing an experimental 14-day lockdown from June 9.
Earlier, the authorities categorised 45 areas in capital Dhaka city as 'red zones' over coronavirus infections following the recommendations of the national technical committee formed to tackle the spread of Covid-19.
In 'red zones', almost all forms of transport will be suspended and public transport, including trains and launches, won't be allowed to stop to ferry people, according to the 13-point directives for 'red zones'. Goods-laden water vessels and ships, however, can enter and exit 'red zone' areas only at night.