Dhaka: Bangladesh plans to extend the nationwide shutdown of offices and workplaces by 10 days from May 15 amid a surge in coronavirus cases and deaths.

The extension will be announced after the plans are formally approved by the prime minister, a senior official of the public administration ministry told bdnews24.com.

"The lockdown will be extended to May 15. A notice on the matter will be issued once the prime minister approves the proposal," the official was quoted by bdnews24.com as saying.

Five more people died from the coronavirus, bringing the body count in Bangladesh to 175.

The tally of positive cases jumped to 8,790 after another 552 cases were reported in 24 hours, DGHS Additional Director General Nasima Sultana said on Saturday.

The latest fatalities, three men and two women, were all recorded in Dhaka, according to the health directorate.

The number of COVID-19 infected police personnel across the country has reached 741 today noon, according to a tally of Bangladesh Police Headquarters.

Of the total infected, 358 are from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) alone.

So far, five police personnel have died from the coronavirus infection.

Besides, 174 others are in isolation as they showed coronavirus-like symptoms while 1250 others, who were in close contact with the infected, have been put in quarantine.

With an increasing number of cases of police personnel being infected with the highly contagious virus, the 250-bed Central Police Hospital in Dhaka is struggling to accommodate patients.

As the police barracks are overcrowded, Dhaka Metropolitan Police have rented at least seven hotels as well as made arrangements at some schools to keep its members in quarantine to prevent further spread.

Around 200,000 police members have been discharging their duties from their respective positions to ensure the safety of people amid the spread of coronavirus, The Daily Star said.