Voicing deep concerns over the emergence of a new sub-variant of Covid-19, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Director General Dr Abu Jafor on Wednesday urged all to avoid all forms of public gatherings.
Jafor made the call while speaking at a press briefing at the DGHS head office.
He also called on everyone to return to health-conscious practices, including the use of face masks and frequent hand washing.
Speaking on the ongoing vaccination campaign, Jafor said booster doses should be administered again to people over 18, pregnant women, individuals above 60 and the immunocompromised, depending on the evolving situation.
Those eligible can receive their booster shots by visiting the nearest vaccination center, he added.
The DGHS DG also requested political parties to refrain from organising rallies or public gatherings in the current situation.
Regarding the upcoming Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations, he said that a decision will be made in coordination with the Ministry of Education.
According to a DGHS report, 13 fresh Covid-19 cases were reported in Bangladesh in 24 hours till Tuesday morning.
With the latest figure, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country has risen to 2,051,760.
The death toll from the virus remains unchanged at 29,500.
A total of 101 samples were tested during the latest reporting period of 24 hours between 8am Monday and 8am Tuesday, resulting in a daily positivity rate of 12.87%.
The overall positivity rate stands at 13.05% till now, while the fatality rate based on detected cases remains at 1.44%, said the DGHS press release.
Meanwhile, the number of people who have recovered from Covid-19 in the country now stands at 2,019,378.
