Bangladesh witnessed a sudden spike in the daily Covid-19 deaths and new cases on Monday amid people’s apathy to follow health guidelines.
With the deaths of 26 more people in the last 24 hours until 8:00 am, the country’s Covid-19 death count now stands at 8,571.
Bangladesh reported 18 deaths on Sunday and 12 on Saturday. During this period, 1,773 cases from novel coronavirus were registered, taking the total cases to 5,59,168,
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) confirmed the matter through a press release signed by Prof Dr Nasima Sultana, Additional Director General of DGHS, this afternoon.
Health authorities also reported 1,432 more recoveries over the preceding 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries to 5,13,127 (91.77 per cent). Bangladesh reported its first coronavirus case on March 8 last year and the first death on March 18 the same year.
UNB adds: The virus infection rate had come down to below 5% on January 19 last. It even had come down below 3 percent. However, the infection rate soared again on Tuesday last as it increased to 5.13%.
The infection rate was 5.98 per cent on Wednesday while 5.82 per cent on Thursday, 6.62% on Friday and 6.26% on Saturday.
Authorities have so far tested 4,283,246 samples, including 18,695 in the past 24 hours.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Monday said ignoring health protocols by the people as the main reasons for rise in coronavirus infection.
He said, mobile courts will be operated across the country to ensure enforcement of health guidelines to control the virus.
“We are worried about the spread of coronavirus. Hospitals have already been asked to take measures in order to tackle the situation. There is no shortage of medicines and oxygen supply in the hospitals,” he said.
The minister informed this after attending a meeting held at the ministry’s conference room over celebration of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of Bangladesh’s Independence.
