People inviting disaster: Health Minister

PBC News: Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Thursday expressed deep concern over the rise in coronavirus infection in the country despite the continuation of Covid-19 vaccination.

“People’re not following health guidelines after getting vaccinated. It’s inviting disaster,” he said while talking to journalists following a programme at the National Institute of Ophthalmology in Dhaka.

Referring to the coronavirus infected people, he said the percentage of Covid-19 infection had gone down to 2 per cent in the country. Now, the infection has approached to 6 per cent.

“It’s a matter of great concern. We’ve become desperate. We don’t use masks properly. We also show reluctance to maintain social distance. We’ve holding too many social functions, or gatherings. As a result, infection has increased again. We’ve become more desperate after getting vaccinated. Coronavirus has not left Bangladesh. It’ll take more time,” he said.

The Health Minister said some steps have already been taken to prevent coronavirus infection. “I held a meeting with government and non-government officials at different levels of the country on Wednesday. Letters have also been sent to the district levels. The district committees have also been directed to take necessary steps. I asked them to limit various social programmes. They have also been asked to postpone the programmes which are not essential,” he said.