Shibchar, Madaripur to be put on lockdown if necessary: Minister

Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Malik on Thursday said the government will put some areas on lockdown if the novel coronavirus situation becomes worser.

"We came to know that most of the COVID-19 patients in Bangladesh are residents of Madaripur, Faridpur and Shibchar areas. If necessary, lockdown will be imposed in the areas, the minister said this while addressing a press briefing. 

"We'll also put other areas on lockdown where it will be necessary. Because we'll have to save our country people from the coronavirus," he added. 

In the briefing, the health minister disclosed that over 5000 people have now been asked to self-quarantine at homes to contain the spread of the deadly epidemic. 

Bangladesh today confirmed four more cases of COVID-19, raising the country's tally to 18. Among the affected people, a 70-year-old man died yesterday. 

The coronavirus pandemic first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December last year, and then spread to at least 173 countries and regions.  

The virus killed as many as 9,276 people and nfected some 225,238 people across the globe, according Worldometer, a website which compiles number of new coronavirus cases and deaths from it.

The website also said around 85,826 people recovered from the virus.