Containment zones: Sporadic steps will not improve COVID-19 scenario

Government and private offices were reopened on 31 May after a general holiday was in place for more than two months. Public transport services have been resumed on a limited scale since 1 June. Though the government mandated following health directives at office and on transports, it seems concerned authorities did not think about how the offices would be conducted prior to this. On 1 June, after offices restarted, state minister of public administration, Farhad Hossain, said 25 per cent officials and employees will work at the ministries and departments. No policy has been drafted defining this 25 per cent which may lead to chaos. Before the government offices had resumed, many private and emergency service institutions conducted their manpower on the basis of their own policies. The government offices can follow these policies.

A high-profile meeting was held at the secretariat on Monday following spike in the coronavirus cases and deaths. The meeting took the decision to divide the country in three containment zones. The zones will be marked by red, yellow and green according to the severity of the infections. The mayors of Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj suggested lockdown should be in place for at least 15 more days. They said people should not be allowed to enter nor leave the cities during the period.

Health minister Zahid Maleque said the zones will be divided as per the recommendations of the health experts. Lockdown was announced at various places before, but could not be implemented. This had resulted coronavirus being spread across the country. Selina Hayat Ivy, the mayor of Narayanganj, had pleaded the government to impose curfew in Narayanganj at the onset of the spread of the virus, but the government did not heed to that. Both India and Bangladesh had announced lockdown or general holiday at the similar time. Though the Indian government resumed mass transport services, it has extended lockdown till 30 June at most affected areas. In this backdrop, the threat seems the gravest for Bangladesh.

The policymakers must remember that dividing zones is not enough. The most affected areas must be completely separated from the unaffected ones. It was easier to do before the mass transports and offices were resumed, but it is still not impossible. As infections are rising in Delhi, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announced the border of the state will be shut for two weeks. No one can enter nor leave the state during this period. If the Delhi government can take such a decision, why cannot we?

Also, it must be ensured that the people follow social distancing rules and health directives at offices, markets, and on transports. Punishment can be stricter if needed. For, due to one’s negligence and carelessness, 10 cannot suffer.

There has been much gap between the government’s decision and implementation in fighting coronavirus earlier. The ministries and institutions lacked coordination. Decisions had been taken overlooking the national committee which cannot be allowed to continue. To implement the decision of containment zones, all-out efforts are required. No dispersed steps will yield results.