Bangladesh cleric tests positive for coronavirus after conducting Ramzan prayers

A Muslim cleric has tested positive for coronavirus after he led Ramzan prayers for a group of over 20 people at a local mosque in southwestern Bangladesh.

The cleric conducted the prayers at a mosque in Adadanga village in Magura district on April 2, and was found to be infected with the disease the following day, bdnews24 reported.

Authorities are now making a list of people who attended the prayers.

The cleric's Bagharpara Pashchima village, which is one-and-a-half kilometres from the mosque, has been put under lockdown following the discovery.

Bangladesh reported 5,416 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 145 deaths till Sunday. It had decided to extend the nationwide COVID-19 shutdown until May 5 amid warnings of heightening risks of coronavirus infections in the country, including among doctors and healthcare workers.

The country had on April 6 suspended prayers for the public at mosques in a bid to stop the spread of the virus.