Lockdown if Covid situation worsens, not now: Health Minister

Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque today said that the government may consider enforcing lockdown if the Covid-19 situation in the country worsens.

"Many have asked us about the possibility of lockdown -- which has been enforced in India (recently). We are not considering it right now," he said.

"If infection rate surges and the situation goes out of control, then we have a plan to enforce lockdown," he said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat today.

The minister said they are going to impose some restrictions including reducing the number of public events, limiting the number of passengers on public transport, restricting unvaccinated consumers from eating at restaurants, and penalising people for not wearing masks outdoors.

Yesterday, Maleque, following an inter-ministerial meeting on Omicron, said that the restriction might be enforced within the next 15 days with issuing a circular.

He, however, said today that they are going to enforce it within a week -- saying 15 days are a long time to spread the virus.