FT ONLINE

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) organised a hand-washing event as coronavirus awareness programme.

The event, chaired by DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam, was held at 25 points in the city but people mostly were spotted without face masks. Moreover, they did not maintain social distance.

Earlier, the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control, and Research (IEDCR) has advised to maintain a distance of at least one metre, and use of face masks and frequently hand wash.

The spread of novel coronavirus has forced people around the world to avoid crowded places, reschedule inessential travel and taking precautionary measures such as working from home to avoid infection of the new coronavirus.

Several countries including Italy, India, United States, Switzerland, England and France have already banned close personal contacts like handshakes and hugs, and imposed restrictions on celebrating certain festivities after the World Health Organisation declared coronavirus a "pandemic."

Bangladesh has reported its first death from the deadly virus. The total number of coronavirus infected in Bangladesh has now risen to 14 as of Wednesday.

Death toll from coronavirus or COVID-19, believed to have originated last year in China has reached 7,948 globally as of Wednesday. Besides, 198,004 cases were reported from around the world.