The government is set to gradually implement its newly drafted zonal lockdown strategy to control further spread of the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
The country will be mapped into red, yellow, and green zones depending on the number of patients.
According to the draft of the plan, the government will initially implement the zonal lockdown strategy at five wards under five different city corporations and a district-level municipality immediately, all of which are severely affected by Covid-19, after approval from the prime minister.
Subsequently, 10 more districts that are severely affected by the novel coronavirus will be added to the process in the second phase one week later.
The entire country is expected to come under the zonal lockdown strategy by mid-June, as per the draft.
However, the Narayanganj district administration on Sunday designated three areas under the city corporation — Amlapara, Jamtola, and Fatullah Rupayan Town — as Red Zones and put them under lockdown.
The authorities concerned have also drafted a Standard Operation Procedure (SoP) for implementing the plan properly.
A Ministry of Public Administration source said the plan and SoP have already been sent to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina through the Cabinet Division for approval.
Farhad Hossain, state minister for the Ministry of Public Administration, said: “The zonal lockdown strategy will be executed after getting approval from the prime minister. A gazette notification detailing the new strategy will be circulated soon.
“The plan was prepared following a series of meetings, but the prime minister may make revisions,” he added.
A cabinet meeting will be held on Monday with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
The main agenda for the meeting is the budget for the 2020-21 fiscal year, but the new plan is also likely to be placed for discussion.
A cabinet division source said only 11 cabinet members will be present at the meeting.
Proposed areas for executing initial zonal lockdown
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has fixed Rajabazar, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has fixed Wari and Narsingdi district administration has fixed Madhobdi municipality for implementing the zonal lockdown rules in the initial phase.
Chittagong, Narayanganj, and Gazipur city corporation authorities are in the process of deciding in which wards they will introduce zonal rules first.
“Once we get the approval from the government, we will start the process,” said Atiqul Islam, mayor of DNCC.
Faridur Rahman Iran, councilor of Raja Bazar (ward 27), said: “We are prepared to execute the new zoning system according to the plan. We will implement it once we get the green signal from the government.
“The new zoning system involves many rules. One is that no one can be allowed outside their homes at red zones. Another is that no transport can move there. We have already arranged ambulances, surplus food for those of the lower income group, and mobile teams for other services,” he added.
“We are now arranging the medical team for collecting samples for testing at the nearest labs,” the councilor further said.
According to the plan, the government will impose a strict lock down in red zones to control further spread of coronavirus, with the aim of reducing patient numbers until it is a yellow zone. Some restrictions will continue to be applicable for yellow zones, in order to turn it into a green zone with virtually no coronavirus cases.
In red zones, almost all forms of transport will be suspended and public transport, including trains and launches, will not be allowed to stop. Goods transport will only be allowed to move at night, and residents will have to rely on delivery from restaurants, grocery stores, shops, and pharmacies as services will be closed to walk-in customers. Residents will be allowed outside only in case of emergencies, even in the day time. Only ATM booths will be open for banking in red zones.
Essential services will still be available in rural areas, even in red zones.
Any public meeting with more than 30 people will not be allowed. Office from home is mandatory for red zones. Rural agro-processing will remain at the district level, but will be closed in urban red zones.