Strict Restrictions Would Be Imposed: Health Min

Bangladesh is in a better position than the rest of the world amid the surge of the Omicron variant. Oral tablets have already hit the market as an antidote to coronavirus. However, this tablet is not a substitute for the vaccine. Health Minister Zahid Maleque has said that strict restrictions may be imposed again to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque made the remarks in response to a question from a local media person at a booster dose vaccination program at Manikganj Nursing Institute on Saturday (January 1) afternoon. He called upon the people to adhere to hygiene rules to curb the rising trend of infection.

The health minister said Omicron has infected up to one lakh people in the UK and up to four lakh in the United States. We do not want this situation in our country. If we want to keep our country safe, we have to follow the health rules. Initially the mask will reduce our risk of infection. As the rate of infection increases, we will be strict about hygiene.

He added that corona vaccination activities have already started at the ward level. It will be possible to give at least 40 million doses of vaccine in January. It is hoped that by next April-May, we will be able to complete the second dose for 12.5 crore people.

Zahid Maleque said that there is no shortage of vaccines in the country. All the arrangements for vaccination have already been completed. Another 60 million new syringes have been imported from China for vaccination. Six non-governmental organizations have been asked to market Coronavirus's oral contraceptives Retinovi and Nirmatelvi.