With winter approaching fast, the daily percentage of people testing Covid-19 positive in Bangladesh has jumped to a 10 week high on Monday with 13.57% people testing positive with coronavirus.
Earlier, on September 7, Bangladesh recorded 14.29% test positivity rate. Since September 7, the test positivity rate was largely below 13% except only on seven days.
The overall positivity percentage on Monday was, however, 16.99%.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 15,768 samples were tested in the 24-hour time span in 116 different laboratories across the country between Sunday and Monday mornings.
Of them, 2,139 samples tested positive for coronavirus infection and so far, 434,472 people tested positive with Covid-19.
To date, 2,556,962 tests have been conducted in the country, leading to an overall infection rate of 16.99% so far.
Bangladesh also confirmed 21 deaths during the 24 hour period taking the total death toll at 6,215 people.
With 1,604 fresh recoveries,in total 80.82% of the patients or 351,146 people have so far recovered from the disease.
Of the 21 deceased – 15 men and six women – 13 were from Dhaka division, four from Chittagong, three from Rangpur, and one from Rajshahi divisions.
Of the victims 20 died at different hospitals in the country and one died at home.
So far, 4,783 men (76.96%) and 1,432 women (23.04%) have died from Covid-19 across the country.
The mortality rate against the total number of cases detected so far stands at 1.43%.
As many as 847 people have been sent to quarantine in the last 24 hours taking the number of people currently in quarantine to 39,244. Also, 858 people were released from quarantine during the same period.
Moreover, 156 Covid-19 suspected patients were taken into isolation and 124 were allowed to leave in the last 24 hours. Now, 12,170 people are staying in different isolation units across the country.
On March 8, health authorities in Bangladesh reported the first three cases of Covid-19, a severe acute respiratory illness caused by a new coronavirus strain which was later named Sars-CoV-2.
Test positivity on the rise
The test positivity rate is witnessing a sharp rise in Bangladesh for the last few days ahead of winter.
Experts suggest the case load may go up during the winter season.
In the last seven days, the test positivity rate crossed the 13% mark thrice.
It was 12.57% on November 10, 11.93% on November 11, 10.78% on November 12, 13.05% on November 13, 12.98% on November 14, and 13.07% on November 15.
Initiatives to combat Covid-19
Alerting everyone about the deteriorating Covid-19 situation in the upcoming winter, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on September 20 asked everyone to bolster preparation for fighting the pandemic in wintertime.
On October 8, the premier said the government is taking all-out preparations to keep the district hospitals ready with ICU and necessary oxygen to effectively encounter the possible second wave.
On November 1, Sheikh Hasina directed authorities concerned to strictly implement the “no mask no service” policy at every government and private offices.
Noting that there is no room for complacency over the current Covid-19 situation, she said everyone will have to be careful over the possible second wave and no one should come to office without a mask under any circumstances.
The government had announced general holidays in late March in the wake of the pandemic and shut all the educational institutions from March 17.
Although activities at both government and private offices were gradually restored, educational institutions have not been reopened.
With many previous directives in place to maintain social distancing and following health advisories, Bangladesh in recent times came up with some major directives to deal with the pandemic.
Cabinet secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam on Monday said mobile courts will be set up in Dhaka within two-three days to ensure mask use and maintenance of other health advisories.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque on November 15 said incoming international passengers will have to be in mandatory home quarantine for 14 days if they do not bring a Covid-19 negative certificate during arrival.
The ongoing shutdown of schools and other educational institutions, except Qawmi madrasas, was also extended till December 19 due to the pandemic.
Global situation
Over 54 million coronavirus cases have been confirmed around the world while the global death toll surged to 1,316,502 on Monday.
According to the data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, the total number of coronavirus cases stands at 54,326, 211 as of Monday morning.
The United States remains the worst-hit country with 246,206 deaths, and a total of 11 million cases so far.
The number of coronavirus cases in the US crossed the 11-million mark on Sunday as cases intensified.
The US crossed 10 million Covid-19 cases on November 8 and is reporting over 100,000 daily cases for the past 11 days straight.
The seven-day rolling average for new daily cases stood at 145,400 on Saturday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
That means the US is adding about 1 million new cases a week, and deaths averaged 820 a day as of Saturday, a 33% increase in just two weeks.
Brazil's Covid-19 death toll reached 165,798 on Sunday after 921 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, according to the country’s Ministry of Health.
Meanwhile, the Latin American country registered 38,307 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the national count to 5,863,093.
India is in the second spot in terms of cases, with 8,814,579 cases as of this morning. It has reported 129,635 deaths so far – the third highest in the world.
Mexico has reported the fourth highest number of deaths at 98,259 with a total of 1,003,253 cases so far – the 11th highest in the world.
The United Kingdom has reported the fifth highest number of deaths at 51,858, with a total of 1,347,922 cases so far – the seventh highest in the world.