Following the declaration of Covid-19 as a pandemic, the global community has faced the insurmountable task of addressing the rising burden of disease.

The government is likely to extend the ongoing shutdown for at least a week as part of its efforts to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

All around the world, the numbers are climbing. Each day registers thousands of new cases and lives lost. In Europe, now the epicenter of the pandemic, governments know that the worst is yet to come and are implementing increasingly restrictive measures to enforce social distancing and isolation.

As the coronavirus gains a foothold in the country, the increasing vulnerability of millions of orphaned and destitute children remains largely unaddressed.

The tea workers of Shamshernagar Tea Garden in Kamalganj upazila, Moulvibazar, took matters into their own hands in defiance of the garden management and stopped work from March 27.

The coronavirus disease (Covid-19) that started in China has now become a global health crisis which, in turn, has caused an economic crisis.

As we have said time and again in this column, echoing the directives of WHO and experts within the country and outside—we must speed up the testing process on an urgent basis, now that we are entering the fourth week since Bangladesh reported its first official Covid-19 case.

In these dark and depressing times, when we are bombarded with news of death, hardship and mismanagement of scarce resources, it is truly heartening to see that individuals and small organisations are stepping up and reaching out to those most in need of support.

A large number of dairy farmers in Pabna and Sirajganj are facing a tough time as big milk factories have drastically cut collection of the item from the famous milk producing zone during the ongoing general holidays and countrywide shutdown-like situation aimed at containing the spread of coronavirus.

Banks’ capacity to provide loans at 9 per cent interest has shrunk even before the government-fixed ceiling is implemented as both individuals and corporate institutions are withdrawing deposits to protect themselves from the ongoing economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.

New York food banks have become inundated with newcomers deprived of income since the near-total halt of business in the United States’ economic capital.

An unknown fear grips Azizur Rahman every time he comes out of his home in the morning. An ambulance driver for years, Azizur feels he might contract coronavirus anytime as he has to come in contact with different patients every now and then.

After testing 153 samples, the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research yesterday reported one Covid-19 case, bringing the tally of confirmed cases to 49.

“Have you brought food for us?” This was what 10-year-old Sohana asked these correspondents at the beginning of this conversation at Kamalapur Railway Station on Sunday noon.

The government should help private hospitals procure ventilators because there could be an acute shortage of the key device in the fight against coronavirus, Labaid Limited Managing Director AM Shamim said.

Local and national NGOs, civil society groups and journalists call upon the government to launch a wide-range of awareness campaigns on coronavirus in the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar and lift the restrictions on using mobile phones and internet and resume 4G facilities at the camps in Ukhiya and Teknaf.

At least 89 Bangladeshis with valid passports return home from India through Bhomra Land Port in Satkhira.

Owners of an eco-resort in Gazipur volunteere their premises to be used as an isolation centre for people on institutional quarantine or those diagnosed with coronavirus.

Nine Bangladeshis, who returned from the UK, are sent to institutional quarantine as they all had high fevers.

Police Headquarters calls upon all not to spread misleading information and rumours against police as it is demotivating the officials who are working for the welfare of the country amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.