The Bangladeshi government has no plan to order a new lockdown to contain a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the country.
Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam made the announcement after a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday.
Instead, he said the government is emphasizing on the use of masks to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The mask-wearing at all public and private institutions, market places and other places of worship was made mandatory at the cabinet meeting.
The Bangladeshi government last week also decided that no public and private offices will serve anyone who is not wearing a mask.
In the current situation of COVID-19, Islam said Prime Minister Hasina has given instructions to enforce "no mask no service" policy strictly.
Asked whether the government was contemplating to reimpose a lockdown on the movement in light of the situations in parts of Europe, the United States and in Bangladesh, he said there is no such plan yet.
"We're not in such a situation that we may need lockdown again," he said with reference to the cabinet discussion.
"We can stay in the comfort zone if everyone wears the mask," Prime Minister Hasina was quoted by the cabinet secretary as saying in the meeting.
Bangladesh reported 1,736 new COVID-19 cases and 25 new deaths on Monday, making the tally at 410,988 and death toll at 5,966 since March 8, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said.
Bangladesh recorded the highest daily new cases of 4,019 on July 2 and the highest number of 64 deaths on June 30.
xinhua
