Decision to relax shutdown should be reviewed: health experts

The government’s decision to relax the ongoing shutdown to allow economic activities during the month of Ramadan appears as a great public health concern as it might accelerate the number of COVID-19 infections, public health experts said.

They demanded a review of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Monday decision to allow shops to remain open till 4:00pm from 6:00am, restaurants to sell iftar items and limited movements of the transports for carrying garment workers as many factories on Sunday resumed operation following the government order.

Otherwise, they said, the efforts in controlling the contagious virus by declaring holidays from March 26 or awarding millions in incentives would earn no positive results.

‘During the holidays we saw that we failed to impose restrictions. People wondered around their areas of residence for no specific reason or to run petty errands,’ Bangladesh Medical Association president Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin told New Age.

‘So it is obvious that people will not follow government order to stay at home anymore when the shops would remain open till the afternoon and restaurants begin selling iftar till evening, which would increase the risk of community transmission as there are many hotspots in the capital and in areas on its outskirts,’ he said.

With full measures to ensure health safety, he said, restaurants could be allowed to operate only inthe areas where RMG factories are located.

Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad president professor Iqbal Arsalan said he was speechless after hearing about the decision to relax restrictions on operating shops, restaurants as well as vehicular movement.

‘I have nothing to say as I have been witnessing one suicidal decision after another. We understand the importance of the economic activities but it should not be allowed at the cost of the public health,’ he said.

Virologist Nazrul islam said that the coronavirus situation was not stable yet as is evident in the frequent ups and downs in the number of new detections of the coronavirus-infected people and fatalities caused by the viral disease in the past few days.

‘The possibility is there for a sharp decline in the situation. In that case we will have to go for a nationwide lockdown for a prolonged period,’ he said.

Freedom fighter and physician Quazi Quamruzzaman said that the decisions must be taken following the WHO guidelines.

Considering the public health concern the health ministry wants suspension of operation of the factories, health ministry additional secretary Habibur Rahman Khan said.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net