The Cox’s Bazar district administration has ordered closure of all tourist attractions in Cox’s Bazar as the country braces for a new wave of Covid-19 infections.
The announcement was made effective from Thursday onwards, and will be in place until April 14.
Syed Murad Islam, executive magistrate and assistant commissioner (tourism cell) of Cox's Bazar, confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune on Thursday night.
He said all tourist and entertainment centers in the district have been declared closed until April 14, as per instructions from the Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner’s Office.
The decision was made to prevent the transmission of Covid-19 in the rising second wave of the virus. The public have also been requested to maintain health guidelines.
He added that the district administration has already set up barricades at Cox's Bazar beach to prevent anyone from entering. A team led by Executive Magistrate Sadia Sultana and Syed Murad Islam have initiated the process from Thursday evening.
Deputy Commissioner Mamunur Rashid told the media cases of the coronavirus were low in the beginning of 2021.
He added that the infection and mortality rate was low in the first few weeks of March, as well as in January and February. However, in the middle of March, coronavirus cases started to rise.
In the second wave of coronavirus, the rate of infection in Cox's Bazar district has reached a critical level. In the current situation, this decision has been taken to prevent transmission of the virus and to take extra precaution to prevent loss of life, he said.
Also the president of the District Corona Infection Prevention Committee, Rashid added that the government has issued an 18-point directive to prevent Covid-19.
In order to make the directives effective, a campaign is being conducted under the leadership of executive magistrates to implement hygiene rules. A massive awareness campaign is being run simultaneously as well.
The deputy commissioner said there is no alternative to prevent the transmission of the virus and to reduce casualties.
The public and organizations must abide by the proper precautions in order for initiatives to be effective in preventing the virus.
Precautions include avoiding public gatherings, wearing masks and washing hands with soap, maintaining a safe physical distance, as well as coronary virus hygiene. He advised the public to comply with the guidelines.
A total of 404 samples were tested in the Cox's Bazar Medical College lab on Wednesday, and 43 people in the district tested positive for Cvoid-19. The sample test reports of the remaining 361 people tested negative for the virus.
Cox's Bazar Medical College Assistant Professor Shahjahan Nazir confirmed the information to Dhaka Tribune.
Of the 43 corona patients tested positive on Wednesday, 41 were from the Cox's Bazar district, one from Rohingya refugees and one from Chittagong's Lohagara upazila.
As of Wednesday, March 31, the number of patients infected with the coronavirus in Cox's Bazar totaled to 6,518.
Meanwhile, 83 people have passed away in the district due to the virus until March 30. Of them, 10 were Rohingya refugees.
