<span style="color: black;">The spike in COVID 19 cases continues unabated in Bangladesh with highest ever new cases reported in the last 24 hours since Sunday. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) latest figures released on Monday, 5181 new COVID 19 cases were reported from the country which is the highest number since the first case was detected on March 8 last year. The country also recorded 45 deaths over the same period, taking the death toll to 8949. The positivity rate per hundred samples has also gone up to 18.38 per cent from a low of about 3 percent as on 28 February. </span><br />'' <span style="color: black;"><br />''The government announced a fresh set of health directives to control the sudden rise the COVID-19 cases. A notification was issued on Monday restricting all kinds of public gatherings. </span><br />'' <span style="color: black;"><br />''The public transport will not be allowed to carry more than 50 per cent passengers of their capacity. Inter-district transport to areas of high infection will be curtailed and suspended completely, if necessary. </span><br />'' <span style="color: black;"><br />''The government also announced a compulsory quarantine of 14 days in hotels for incoming passengers from abroad.</span><br />'' <span style="color: black;">All educational institutions will also remain closed. All government and private establishments and factories will operate with 50 per cent of their employee strength.</span><br />'' <span style="color: black;"><br />''Meetings, seminars and training must take place only through online media.</span><br />'' <span style="color: black;"><br />''Mask wearing in public places has been made mandatory. </span><br />'' <span style="color: black;"><br />''Meanwhile, COVID-19 vaccination continued in Bangladesh. On Monday, 56, 431 people were vaccinated, taking the total number of vaccinated people to over 53.19 lakh.</span>