The government has asked all to stay indoors as the general holidays have been declared for curbing the spread of COVID-19, not for enjoyment.

“The aim of declaring the general holidays from Mar 26 to Apr 4 are not to enjoy it rather to resist the spread of coronavirus,” said Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus on Tuesday (Mar 24).

The Principal Secretary said this at a press briefing at the Prime Minister’s Office amid the mass exodus of people following the announcement of the 10-day general holiday, reports UNB.

He asked all officials and employees of the government offices and private organisations to stay home and not to leave their work stations.

Mentioning that the government has slapped a ban on movement of public transports including train, bus and launch, he said, “You please don't leave your stations. We’re requesting those who have already left not to go outside their homes.”

The Principal Secretary asked all to get sanitised and take all sorts of preventive measures if they have to go outside for any emergency work.

He said all the essential services of government offices will remain open.

Stressing that maintaining social distancing is very important to prevent infection of COVID-19, he asked everyone to keep at least three-feet distance from others.

Dr Kaikaus said the government has taken all the necessary measures so that the public life is not hampered.

He said kitchen markets, food and medicine shops, hospitals and other emergency services will remain open during the period.

PM' Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim was present at the press briefing.

So far, 39 people have been detected with COVID-19 infection and four people died being infected with the virus in Bangladesh, according to the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).