DGHS suggests complete lockdown, public exams postponement
If a countrywide complete lockdown is not possible, the government needs to restrict public gathering to maintain the economic balance of the country, suggested the meeting
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has suggested that the government should impose a complete lockdown across the country to tackle the Covid-19 situation as both infections and deaths are on rise again.
DGHS came up with the suggestion in a meeting with experts on Tuesday.
If a countrywide complete lockdown is not possible, the government needs to restrict public gathering to maintain the economic balance of the country, suggested the meeting.
DGHS director general ABM Khurshid Alam presided over the meeting.
The meeting, held on the back of a sudden deterioration in the Covid-19 situation, came up with a 12-point proposal including postponement of public examinations including BCS exam.
The proposals have been sent to the Health Ministry and Cabinet division.
The 12 proposals have been given below:
1. If possible, go to complete lockdown. Otherwise, DGHS has recommended to close any public meeting keeping in view the coordination of economic activities.
2. Kitchen markets, public transport, shopping malls, mosques, political gatherings, voting ceremonies, waz mahfils, Ramadan iftar mahfils, etc should be restricted.
3. Educational institutions that are closed should not be reopened. Other activities also need to be limited.
4. Any public examination (including BCS, SSC, HSC, Madrasa, Dakhil) should be stopped.
5. Steps should be taken to isolate patients with Covid-19.
6. Those who come in contact with Covid-19 patients should be kept under strict quarantine.
7. Arrangements have to be made to keep those who come from abroad or expatriates under strict quarantine for 14 days. If necessary, the help of the military can be taken in this regard.
8. Eid holidays should be reduced.
9. The hygiene rules need to be enforced more vigorously.
10. Manpower needs to be further increased at the Port of Entry and surveillance activities need to be intensified.
11. Initiatives should be taken to conduct all types of meetings in a virtual manner.
12. Traffic in tourist areas should be restricted.
The Covid-19 situation has taken a serious turn since the beginning of March after two months of relatively few case detections and deaths in the country.