Bangladesh to impose tough new lockdown starting on Monday

Bangladesh has announced it will impose a tough new lockdown starting on Monday, after a “dangerous and alarming” surge in Delta variant cases of coronavirus, AFP reported.

All government and private offices will be shut for a week and only medical-related transport will be allowed, the government said late on Friday.

“No one can step out of their homes except in emergency cases,” a statement added.

Health department spokesman Robed Amin said police and border guards would be deployed to enforce the lockdown and the army may be involved if needed.

“It is a dangerous and alarming situation. If we don’t contain it now, we will face an India-like situation,” Amin told AFP, referring to a surge in cases in India in April and May.

Infection rates have been rising sharply since mid-May in Bangladesh, home to around 170 million people.

On Friday, the government recorded almost 6,000 new cases and 108 fatalities, the second-highest death toll yet in the pandemic.