Shibchar put on coronavirus lockdown

The government has put Shibchar upazila of Madaripur district on lockdown in a bid to contain the spread of novel coronavirus.

The upazila administration made the announcement on Thursday afternoon, confirmed upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Md Asaduzzaman.

Until further decision is taken, the lockdown will remain effective but drug stores, raw materials shops, and groceries will remain exempted from the restrictions, the UNO said. 

During the lockdown, none can enter the upazila and go out of it, the official added. 

The decisions came hours after the Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Malik said the governmment will impose lockdown in some areas, including Shibchar, if coronavirus situation deteriorates.

In a press briefing health minister had said, "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."

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.