According to WHO, a test positivity of over 5% is a key concern for any country
Tribune Desk
Publish : 07 Jan 2022, 11:36 PMUpdate : 07 Jan 2022, 11:36 PM
The National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19 has issued a set of stricter guidelines following the surge in infections and the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.
The guidelines were finalized during the committee’s 50th meeting, said a NTAC statement on Friday, when the country registered 1,146 new cases with the daily test positivity rising above 5% to 5.67% in 24 hours.
The new cases were detected after testing 20,204 samples during the period. The daily-case positivity was 4.86% a day ago, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), a test positivity of over 5% is a key concern for any country.
Bangladesh has also so far recorded 20 Omicron cases.
The NTAC said that since the Covid-19 infections were rising rapidly in neighbouring India and the rest of the world, Bangladesh was also seeing an upsurge in cases.
The advisory body has recommended that mobile courts be conducted to ensure that the health guidelines are followed properly.
It has recommended ensuring wearing masks properly, keeping the hands clean, and arranging for hand washing stations to be set up in public places.
The recommendations include banning all social gatherings including weddings, political and religious functions as well as conducting offices or meetings online.
Meanwhile, the government is asked to arrange inoculation of the students immediately as well as to ensure screening at points of entry, and enforce isolation and quarantines.
In case of a surge in infections, the committee has asked the government to arrange adequate regular beds and ICU beds at hospitals as well as supply oxygen.
Government’s 15-point guideline
On Tuesday, the government issued a 15-point guideline to prevent infection by the highly-transmittable African variant of Covid-19.
In a notice, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said health examining, tests and screening of passengers arriving from Omicron-hit countries must be strengthened at all types of ports.
It also discouraged all types of social, political, religious and other gatherings and stressed that maintenance of health guidelines on public transports must be ensured.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said that the authorities were not thinking of enforcing a lockdown now even though several states in neighbouring India, plagued by Omicron, had imposed curfews and closed schools.
He said measures would be taken to strengthen the screening process along the border and fresh restrictions would be imposed within a week.
The deputy commissioners of all districts have been asked to strictly enforce the directives immediately.
Covid Surge: NTAC recommends tougher restrictions
According to WHO, a test positivity of over 5% is a key concern for any country
The National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19 has issued a set of stricter guidelines following the surge in infections and the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.
The guidelines were finalized during the committee’s 50th meeting, said a NTAC statement on Friday, when the country registered 1,146 new cases with the daily test positivity rising above 5% to 5.67% in 24 hours.
The new cases were detected after testing 20,204 samples during the period. The daily-case positivity was 4.86% a day ago, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), a test positivity of over 5% is a key concern for any country.
Bangladesh has also so far recorded 20 Omicron cases.
The NTAC said that since the Covid-19 infections were rising rapidly in neighbouring India and the rest of the world, Bangladesh was also seeing an upsurge in cases.
The advisory body has recommended that mobile courts be conducted to ensure that the health guidelines are followed properly.
It has recommended ensuring wearing masks properly, keeping the hands clean, and arranging for hand washing stations to be set up in public places.
The recommendations include banning all social gatherings including weddings, political and religious functions as well as conducting offices or meetings online.
Meanwhile, the government is asked to arrange inoculation of the students immediately as well as to ensure screening at points of entry, and enforce isolation and quarantines.
In case of a surge in infections, the committee has asked the government to arrange adequate regular beds and ICU beds at hospitals as well as supply oxygen.
Government’s 15-point guideline
On Tuesday, the government issued a 15-point guideline to prevent infection by the highly-transmittable African variant of Covid-19.
In a notice, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said health examining, tests and screening of passengers arriving from Omicron-hit countries must be strengthened at all types of ports.
It also discouraged all types of social, political, religious and other gatherings and stressed that maintenance of health guidelines on public transports must be ensured.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said that the authorities were not thinking of enforcing a lockdown now even though several states in neighbouring India, plagued by Omicron, had imposed curfews and closed schools.
He said measures would be taken to strengthen the screening process along the border and fresh restrictions would be imposed within a week.
The deputy commissioners of all districts have been asked to strictly enforce the directives immediately.