National committee recommends 2-week complete lockdown
The opinion was made at the meeting that the virus spread could not be controlled without a full lockdown for at least two weeks
The National Technical Advisory Committee for Covid-19 has recommended for at least two-week complete lockdown to tackle the worsening coronavirus infection in Bangladesh.
The 30th meeting of the committee was held at last night, chaired by Professor Mohammad Sahidullah, chairman of the committee.
The several recommendations were made by the committee members at the end of the meeting as the rate of Covid-19 transmission and death are increasing alarmingly across the country.
The Prime Minister's Office has already issued 18 directives to curb Covid spread. The cabinet division imposed seven-day lockdown. However, as the restriction is not being followed properly, the rate of infection is increasing. Restrictions need to be followed in strictly, said the committee.
The opinion was made at the meeting that the virus spread could not be controlled without a full lockdown for at least two weeks. It is recommended to give full lockdown especially in city corporations and municipality areas.
Before the end of two weeks, the decision can be reviewed considering the rate of infection, suggested the committee.
Health ministry is trying to increase the number of beds, ICU facilities and oxygen supply. The Dhaka North City Corporation hospital is expected to be launched in the middle of next week.
Government's capacity needs to be increased more as soon as possible considering the increasing pressure on the hospital to admit more patients, recommended the committee.
Amid rise of infection rate, number of patients in coronavirus test centers is increasing and it is taking time to get the report. A large part of those who are coming to test are the abroad-bound people. The pressure on government laboratories will be lessened if abroad-bound people can be sent to private laboratories without migrant workers, said the committee adding that the issue needs to be considered.
In this way isolation can be ensured by providing test and report quickly to the patients which is very important for the control of infection.
Vaccination has been very effective in the United Kingdom. In-order to ensure the success of the vaccination program in Bangladesh as well to ensure the supply of vaccine, the recommendation to vaccinate people by importing vaccine privately was made again.
