Dhaka, Narayanganj clusters locked down
22 out of total 35 new Covid-19 cases detected yesterday are from these two cities
Authorities have locked down several areas of Dhaka and Narayanganj as the two cities have become the most infection-prone zones for the novel coronavirus.
So far 10 people in the capital and 12 in Narayanganj tested positive for the virus out of the 35 new cases detected in the past 24 hours till yesterday noon, according to the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).
So far, 64 people from Dhaka city and 23 from Narayanganj have tested positive for Covid-19 out of the total 123 cases in Bangladesh.
Yesterday, three deaths were reported from Covid-19, taking the total figure of casualties to 12.
"The coronavirus infection is no longer restricted to a single place; rather it is spreading," said Abul Kalam Azad, director general of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
On Sunday, the DGHS identified several clusters for cases of the virus, in Basabo, Tolarbagh and Mirpur in Dhaka; several places in Narayanganj city; and the Madaripur and Gaibandha districts. The authorities locked down the areas.
In the wake of rising numbers of cases, Narayanganj city Mayor Selina Hayat Ivy, on Sunday, requested that the government impose a curfew or at least lockdown on the area to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Meanwhile, movements have been restricted in several places in the capital city.
Mostak Ahmed, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Mirpur zone), said Kafrul area was placed on lockdown as new infections were found.
Kalabagan police station Inspector (Operations) Thakur Das Malo said that a building on Central Road in the area was locked down after an Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) director living there tested positive. The ACC director died of the disease at a city hospital yesterday.
Abdullah Hil Kafi, additional deputy commissioner of Ramna Zone, told The Business Standard that they cordoned-off the Ramna area.
"We will keep monitoring the area round-the-clock so that no one can come out from and enter there without an urgent need," he added.
Arif Hossain, a resident of the area, said they were scared after they heard that one coronavirus patient from that area had died.
"The building owners' association decided they should self-isolate but we are far away from the deceased person's residence. At least 200 residents will remain in self-isolation until the situation improves," he said.
Another affected area, Basabo, has also been placed on lockdown.
"It is one of the most densely-populated areas of the city. However, most people are not worrying about the crisis here. They have tea and gossip at tea stalls and roam here and there. We need strict patrolling by law enforcement," said Nasimul Ahsan, a resident of Basabo and an instructor at the Press Institute of Bangladesh.
Sartaj Alim, who resides in Mirpur's Tolarbagh area, said they are following the instructions under the lockdown.
"Already six people have tested positive here. So, we are a bit scared about more transmissions of the virus," he added.
Quader Helal, another resident from Mirpur, said most of the shops and markets there have already been shut down.
"Law enforcement agencies are patrolling all the time and instructing everyone not to keep their shops open after 6pm," he said.