Covid-19: Cox’s Bazar municipality declared ‘Red Zone’

-- All public gatherings banned

-- Kitchen markets open only on Sundays and Thursdays from 8:00am to 4:00pm; all other shops, markets and businesses to be shut

-- Specials Ids for journos, Covid-19 responders

-- No plying of private, non-emergency vehicles

The municipality area under Cox's Bazar district has been declared as a Red Zone for Covid-19 transmission and will come under a 15-day strict lockdown from June 6 midnight onwards, the district administration said today.

The coronavirus situation in Cox's Bazar district town has become alarming making the area a red zone and it will be locked down, said Md Kamal Hossain, deputy commissioner and district magistrate of Cox's Bazar.

The decision was made at a meeting of the district committee on preventing Covid-19 outbreak, reports our local correspondent.

According to the announcement, all types of public gatherings, including private, family, social and political ones, will be banned during the 15-day lockdown period.

People are advised to stay at home while plying of all private and public transport will remain suspended, it said.

Goods-laden vehicles and those carrying daily necessities can ply from 8:00pm to 8:00am.

All non-government vehicles will need permission from the district administration for any movement in the red zone.

Only ambulances and vehicles carrying patients or on-duty medical service providers, or those involved in addressing Covid-19 situation, and those involved in delivering emergency services, will remain out of purview of the directive.

Kitchen markets and grocery stores will open only on Sundays and Thursdays from 8:00am to 4:00pm maintaining social distancing measures and health directives.

All other shops, markets, and businesses will remain shut during the lockdown period in the red zone.

Medicine stores will remain out of purview of the directive, while Covid-19 related service providers and other emergency services will remain open on a limited scale.

All hospitals, medical treatment centres, and banks will remain out of purview of the directive.

Journalists are advised to collect special photo identity cards from the Cox's Bazar Press Club and display it while on duty.

Volunteers involved in Covid-19 assistance are also advised to collect and display the special ids provided by the Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Cox's Bazar Sadar, the directive added.