The DGHS has proposed that the government not reopen educational institutions and hold any public examinations in the wake of rising number of Covid-19 patients. 

In Tuesday's meeting at the Prime Minister's Office, the DGHS officials also suggested going for a complete lockdown to curb the virus transmission.

The high-ups of the PMO, however, opined that the authorities concerned will make decision on such issues and asked the DGHS to strengthen enforcement of health safety guideline and reopen the Covid-19 hospitals that were shut down earlier.

"We have just presented those points for discussion. Those were our proposal for discussion. We have discussed, but the authorities concerned will decide. But we have been asked to vigorously run campaigns on health guidelines," Prof ABM Khurshid Alam, director general of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), told The Daily Star last night.

In this context, there was discussion on social media whether tomorrow's 41st public service examinations will be held or not.

"We have only one day left before the exams. We have sent question papers and other logistics to different exam centres. Examinees have also come to the divisional cities. It is tough to stop the exam now," Shahjahan Ali Mollah, a member of Public Service Commission, said last night.

In the last 10 days, the transmission of novel coronavirus had been gradually rising every day with experts fearing spread of the new strains of novel coronavirus, including those first detected in the UK and South Africa.

The meeting also discussed several other issues, including the stop to mass gathering, limiting different markets, political gatherings, election, tourist gathering, religious meeting, and iftar events; strengthening screening at all entry points to the country -- airports, seaports and land ports -- and quarantining people who come in contact with any infected people.

The new Covid-19 strain was found in 10 European Union returnees, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said yesterday, UNB adds.

He was speaking at a programme marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.