Online Report : In the wake of deteriorating coronavirus infection situation in the country, the government is going to issue a directive soon asking all public and private organisations to run their offices with with 50 per cent of employees.

It was disclosed by Health Minister Zahid Maleque while speaking at a function at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) at Mohakhali in the capital on Friday morning.

He said decision has been taken to run offices with 50 per cent of officials and employees. "An official notification will be issued in this regard soon," he said.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet Division, in a gazette notification on Friday, said all educational institutions will remain closed from January 21 to February 6 due to rising trend of Covid-19 infection.

The notice also added that not more than 100 people would be able to gather at any social, political, religious or government events. Also, those attending any such event have to carry Covid-19 vaccine certificates as well as a RT-PCR negative certificates from tests done within 24 hours of the event.

Covid-19 certificates of all employees of government and non-government organisations must be collected by the office authorities.

Bangladesh recorded 10,888 new Covid cases on Thursday, the highest daily count since August 10 last year when 11,164 people were diagnosed with the virus in a single day.

Aligned with the infection surge, the current positivity rate rose to 26.37 per cent from 25.11 per cent a day ago.