39 people have died from Covid-19 in Bangladesh in the last 24 hours, taking the overall death toll in the country to 2,391.
Furthermore, 3,099 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed on the day, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 186,894.
12,358 samples were taken from suspected Covid-19 patients between Sunday and Monday mornings, and 12,423 samples were tested in 77 authorized labs across the country. The daily infection rate of 24.95% is the highest recorded in the country so far.
The total number tests conducted in Bangladesh now stands at 952,947, with an overall infection rate of 19.61%.
Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Additional Director General (Administration) Prof Nasima Sultana revealed the latest figures in a daily online bulletin on the Covid-19 situation on Monday afternoon.
‘Fee for Covid-19 tests may reduce number of daily tests’
Prof Nasima said the setting of a fee for Covid-19 tests may be a reason the number of tests conducted has been in decline.
The DGHS additional director general also said people are becoming reluctant to take tests now for various reasons.
“People are reluctant and not that interested in getting tested anymore as the panic has decreased these days. Outdoor booths set up for sample collection are empty by 1pm, even though they are open till 3pm,” Prof Nasima said.
More men among fatalities
Of the 39 deceased, 30 were men. 19 people died in Dhaka division, seven in Khulna, five in Chittagong, three in Barisal, two each in Rangpur and Sylhet, and one in Mymensingh division.
Of the recently deceased, 34 died undergoing treatment at hospitals and 5 at home. One was under the age of 10, one between 11-20, three in their 30s, six in their 40s, 13 in their 50s, 11 in their 60s, three in their 70s and one was over the age of 80, Prof Nasima said.
Of all the people who have died from Covid-19 in the country, 1,890 (79.05%) were men and 501 (20.95%) women.
The mortality rate against the total number of cases detected stands at 1.28%.
Bangladesh’s highest daily death toll of 64 was recorded on June 30.
Of all people who died due to Covid-19 in the country, 1,195 patients have so far died in Dhaka division, 623 in Chittagong, 121 in Rajshahi, 128 in Khulna, 105 in Sylhet, 88 in Barishal, 75 in Rangpur, and 56 in Mymensingh division.
Recoveries near 100,000
Prof Nasima said 4,703 people recovered from Covid-19 in the last 24 hours.
So far, 98,317 patients — 52.61% of all infected — have made full recoveries across the country.
Over 71% hospital beds remains vacant
As many as 14,664 isolation beds have been arranged at dedicated Covid-19 hospitals across the country, but only 4,167 patents are undergoing treatment there. 10,497 beds (71.58%) are still vacant, Prof Nasima said.
Out of 374 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds, patients are being treated in 185, she added.
In the hospitals of Dhaka city, 2,051 patients are currently admitted wherel 6,305 total beds have been arranged. Only 87 out of the 142 ICU beds in the capital are in use.
In Chittagong, 311 patients are admitted against 657 isolation beds, and 19 out of 39 ICUs are in use.
As many as 11,275 oxygen cylinders, 158 high-flow nasal cannula, and 105 oxygen concentrators are available at hospitals across the country.
In the last 24 hours, 765 more people were put in isolation, while 713 were released. A further 2,401 people were put in home and institutional quarantine, while 3,273 were released.
Bangladesh is now the 17th worst hit country by Covid-19 in terms of the total number of positive cases, followed by France in 18th place, according to Worldometer.
Prof Nasima said anyone can lodge complaints regarding Covid-19 tests on the Corona Corner of the DGHS website (www.dghs.gov.bd).
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 named SARS-CoV-2.
The novel coronavirus broke out in China's Wuhan city in late December last year and quickly spread throughout the world, becoming a pandemic in less than three months.
The fast-spreading coronavirus has claimed 571,976 lives and infected 13,057,543 people across the world till 3:15pm on Monday, according to Worldometer.
As many as 7,604,159 people have recovered from Covid-19 which has spread to 213 countries and territories across the planet.
