The National Technical Advisory Committee has recommended extending the water lockdown by one more week. The recommendation was made in a press release on Sunday (April 18).
A virtual meeting chaired by Professor Mohammad Sahidullah on Sunday (April 16th) night discussed in detail the status of corona infection and the steps taken to prevent it. Concerns were raised at the meeting over the high incidence of COVID-19 infection and the growing number of deaths across the country.
The National Technical Advisory Committee recommended a full lockdown for at least two weeks, the release said. The government has already announced a one-week lockdown from April 14. The committee expressed satisfaction over this. Although scientifically effective results cannot be expected in less than two weeks of lockdown.
The committee realized the need to keep the industries open in the interest of keeping the country’s economy afloat. But private offices, banks being kept open, increasingly private car traffic, unwanted and unnecessary extra crowds at the Iftar market uncertain the success of the lockdown. The meeting also drew the attention of policymakers to the issue of social equality.
The meeting suggested shutting down everything except health, fire service, and other emergency services. The committee also requested that the list of emergency services be kept open. Otherwise, the risk of an adverse situation is expressed. For example, the ongoing lockdown also mentioned obstructions and unforeseen incidents in the movement of doctors and health workers for their duties.
In addition, the committee has recommended a strict lockdown for one more week by proposing to set up an open space in the raw market. The decision can be made again considering the rate of infection before the end of the next week. It is advisable to have a plan ready to end the lockdown gradually.
