The government issued an order extending its restrictions on public activities and movements across the country until August 3 to contain spread of coronavirus pandemic as an existing nationwide control measure of identical nature is set to expire last evening.
The Cabinet Division issued a notification tonight mentioning “the restriction will continue from July 1 (tomorrow) to August 3. Weekly holidays will also be under the purview of the restrictions.”
Without urgent needs (works for burying bodies or last rituals, necessary purchasing or selling including medicines, medical services and movement towards workplaces), none will be allowed to go outside home from 10pm to 5am during that period, said the notification which contains an 11-point directive.
Outside of home, wearing face-mask, keeping social distancing and maintaining health guidelines must be followed by everyone, otherwise violators will face legal actions, it said.
Markets, shops and shopping malls must be closed within 7pm while hand-washing facilities, sanitizers, vehicle disinfecting services must be ensured at entries of shopping malls.
Movement of all sorts of vehicle (trucks, lorries and cargo vessels) engaged in transporting commodities through highways and river routes will continue following health guidelines issued by Health Services Division.
Ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha, one of the biggest religious festivals of the Muslims, arrangement of cattle markets will be allowed but government issued health guidelines must be followed strictly.
Public transport, passenger vessels, trains and airplanes could operate their services in a limited scale with limited number of passengers in approved regions. But maintenance of health guidelines, including use of protective masks, announced by the Health Services
Division must be ensured all times.
No educational institution would be allowed to remain open during the restriction. However, online courses or distance learning courses will continue and institutes can carry on administrative works.
Rallies, meetings, mass gathering and any functions will remain stopped during the restriction while the people could offer their prayers at mosques and other places of worship maintaining the guidelines issued by the Religious Affairs Ministry and the health guidelines.
To contain the spread of the deadly virus, zoning system like red, yellow and green zones will be implemented while city corporations will be responsible for overall implementation of the region-based restriction activities in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
In areas outside the city corporation, district administrations will coordinate the overall activities. Local government institutions, district or upazila administrations, health division, law enforcement agencies will deliver their services in this regard ensuring coordination among themselves. ♦
(The story originally published by BSS)
