Another COVID-19 patient died in Bangladesh and three more tested positive for the disease in last 24 hours, said health minister Zahid Maleque on Wednesday.

With this, six people died of COVID-19 and 54 people were infected with the disease in Bangladesh since March 8. Of the infected people, 23 are currently under treatment while 25 have already recovered.

The minister joined an online briefing of the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research.

He urged all to stay at their respective houses and use masks outside, in case of emergency, as the coronavirus situation did not improve in the country.

The government on Tuesday decided to extend the ongoing public holiday till April 9 to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus in Bangladesh. It also decided that there would be no outdoor programmes celebrating Pahela Baishakh — the Bengali New Year — on April 14 to avoid mass gatherings in the prevailing situation.

However, people belonging to the lower-income groups in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country were venturing out in search of food and work on Tuesday during the special holiday announced to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

While the army troopers and police units were on patrols setting up checkpoints on major roads to maintain social distancing in the cities, many people, cars and rickshaws were seen on the roads.