People are increasingly ignoring the health practices like wearing masks and maintaining distance despite the looming threat of a second wave of COVID-19 infections in the coming winter.

The withdrawal of the restrictions on public movement and business activities from September 1 has allowed people to return to the regular stream of activities at offices, markets and public transports, posing a greater threat of the spread of the novel disease.

COVID-19 cases are increasing fast in the capital compared to the other parts of the country as experts believe the nonchalant attitude of the city dwellers towards the virus outbreak and not following the health practices was a major contributing factor behind the current scenario.

The recent rise in the coronavirus case rate in the capital was 34 per cent since September 1 to October 20, although the rate was 22 per cent nationally, according to the data of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research.

In the first 20 days of October, the case rise rate in the capital was nearly double than in the other parts of the country. There has been a 13 per cent rise in the capital while across the country the rise rate was 7 per cent.

‘We don’t know about what will happen in the coming winter but the way people are ignoring the precautionary measures against COVID-19 infections is alarming,’ said virologist Nazrul Islam.

He said that the government failed to sensitise people and ensure the health practices at offices, businesses, public transports and other public places.

The government is urging people to follow the health practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but no enforcement measures to follow the guidelines are in place, he said.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday urged all to use masks while coming out of their houses to further prevent the onslaught of the deadly virus.

She asked the agencies concerned to ensure mandatory use of masks in all public places including markets and religious establishments where a large number of people gather at once.

Her call came from the cabinet’s regular weekly meeting as the prime minister along with her cabinet colleagues took a serious note of the massive resurfacing of COVID-19 in second peak in many European countries and the USA as well.

But the health minister on Sunday said that the coronavirus situation in the country was now ‘good’ compared to the USA, European countries and even India and this situation has boosted the confidence of the public to engage in economic activities.

Nazrul Islam, also a member of National Technical Advisory Committee on COVID-19, said that it was the health ministry that should lead the COVID-19-related activities, but the ministry failed to take the lead, and added that it was rather downplaying the situation.

He observed that downplaying the COVID-19 situation gave the masses a false sense of security about the coronavirus threat.

‘People are not maintaining the health practices as they believe that the severity of COVID-19 has decreased,’ he said.

Nazrul, also a former vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, said that the Directorate General of Health Services’ daily press conference about COVID-19 was an effective tool to sensitise  people but the press conference was now stopped.

‘When public health officers speak before the nation daily, it works more effectively than any other methods aimed at sensitising people,’ he said.

Lifting the ban on public movement from September 1, Cabinet Division on August 31 in a notification said that the respective ministries, divisions and other authorities to take necessary measures for implementing the safety guidelines regarding public movement and other activities.

The authorities concerned would ensure that people wear face coverings, maintain social distancing and follow other health safety guidelines when they are outdoors, it said.

But the public offices, including the Secretariat, hardly ensured implementing the health measures, as people even visit government offices without any precautions.

The public transports authorities, including the railway, are running their services in full swing without ensuring proper

safety measures to prevent the spread of the novel virus.

The situation is no different at the city markets, shopping malls, factories across the country as the wearing masks and maintaining social distancing in crowded places are not a priority.

The government directed the shopping malls to ensure that all visitors use hand sanitiser and don masks before entering the markets, but the directives are being grossly ignored by the market and shopping mall authorities.

Mosque goers are also not wearing masks.

IEDCR principal scientific officer ASM Alamgir said that wearing masks could be an effective tool to lower