Countrymen return to ‘normal life’ despite COVID-19 surge

The countrymen went back to their regular life amid the surge of coronavirus across the country following the government decision to lift the nationwide strict lockdown from August 11.

Bangladesh reported the highest number of 264 deaths due to the coronavirus on Tuesday, just a day before lifting the strict lockdown.

Following a circular issued by the cabinet division on Sunday, all offices, banks, financial institutions, markets, factories and industries reopened on Wednesday.

Besides, public transports, including railways, roads and waterways, have been allowed to operate at full capacity after 19 days.

The cabinet division, however, urged everyone to strictly maintain the government-issued health safety protocols, including wearing masks, the maintenance of social distancing and regular use of hand sanitizers.

However, the health safety protocols have been seen violating at public transports in different areas of the capital.

People were seen boarding local buses without wearing masks, no social distancing is been noticed among the passengers of the public transports. Besides, many buses were seen carrying extra passengers after fulfilling their capacity.

Meanwhile, shopping malls and markets will remain open from 10 am to 8 pm every day.

Hotels and restaurants were seen allowing almost 100 percent of customers to offer dine-in services though the government asked to allow at half capacity.

All banks and financial institutions, alongside factories and industries, resume their normal operations from this morning.

Besides, domestic and international flights are already in operation in the country.

In such a situation, the health experts warned that the overall situation will deteriorate more as the countrymen started entering their normal life.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also recommends easing restrictions when the infection rate drops below 5 percent while the overall rate in the country is still above 16 percent.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) officials said that the infection rate will certainly jump again within two weeks after lifting the lockdown.

Many emphasized continuing strict restrictions until the infection rate drops to 5 percent or vaccinate more people across the country.

Notably, the government enforced a 14 days strict lockdown from July 1 which was eased for eight days ahead of Eid. The strict lockdown, however, imposed again on July 23 for two weeks.

In the meantime, the government allowed to reopen all export-oriented factories, including the readymade garment sector, from August 1 amid the strict lockdown.

Bangladesh reported over 200 single-day deaths for the last 17 days. And the country registered 6,182 fatalities due to coronavirus in July, which marked the deadliest month since the pandemic started.