Bangladesh has announced it will impose a tough new lockdown starting from Monday, after a “dangerous and alarming” surge in Delta variant cases of coronavirus, reports AFP.

All government and private offices will be shut for a week and only medical-related transport will be allowed, the government has said.

“No one can step out of their homes except in emergency cases,” according to a statement by the government.

On Friday, the government recorded almost 6,000 new cases and 108 fatalities, the second-highest death toll yet in the pandemic.