Making people stay at home

It is most unfortunate that many amongst us have taken the directives given by the government to stay at home and maintain social distancing very lightly, despite the fact that the numbers of new infections and deaths from Covid-19 are increasing every day in the country. Although law enforcers and even army officials are on the ground to ensure social distancing, people are still coming out of their homes and gathering at local bazaars and streets without maintaining safe distance from one another. Amid such a situation, as the government plans to extend the shutdown by at least a week, we think it should also consider taking some extra measures to make people stay at home.

Raising awareness among people about the probable disastrous impacts of social gatherings at this time is key to keeping them housebound. In the capital, where the infection rate is much higher, the two city corporations can play a crucial role in this regard by engaging the ward commissioners and councillors. The public representatives across the country should also play their part.

Moreover, the role of the law enforcers is of critical importance here; they have to be as tough as needed to enforce the shutdown. We expect them to take harsher measures in the worst-hit areas. Besides, the government's relief and other efforts to help the poor people should also be carried out following social distancing guidelines. The authorities' decision to keep Karwan Bazar, one of the largest kitchen markets in Dhaka, closed for retail sales as a means to contain further spread of the virus is commendable. Decisions should also be taken about the other kitchen markets in the city which are still crowded by people.

As many of these issues were discussed at a high-profile meeting of the Cabinet Division on Tuesday, we are hopeful of seeing more organised efforts from the government—from raising awareness to enforcing shutdowns, from preparing the hospitals to treat the Covid-19 patients to ensuring high-quality PPEs for doctors and medical staff—to deal with the health crisis that the nation is facing. Since health experts have warned that the Covid-19 outbreak is gradually approaching its peak in the country and that the situation is likely to worsen further, we have no option but to stay at home and strictly maintain the social distancing measures at all costs.