Daily Covid cases, deaths jump again

As Covid-19 cases began skyrocketing again, both the death and infection rates yesterday were the highest in the last month or so.

Some 44 people died in 24-hours till 8:00am yesterday, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

This is the highest number deaths recorded due to coronavirus infection since May 9, when some 56 people died due to the infection.

Besides, at least 2,322 new cases were reported in the same period. The numbers of daily new cases were below 2,000 since April 30, when some 2,177 new infections were recorded, according to DGHS statistics.

The total number of deaths from Covid-19 has now become 12,913, while the total number of infected people are 8,15,282.

DGHS statistics yesterday said the current positivity rate was 12.12 percent, which was 11.47 percent a day ago.

According to World Health Organization (WHO) standards, if any country's positivity rate remains below five percent for two consecutive weeks, it is considered that the infection rate has come under control in that country.

As people outside the capital are getting rapidly infected, fresh lockdowns are to be enforced in some districts.

In Natore, a seven-day lockdown will be enforced in the district headquarters and Singra municipality area from 6:00am today.

In Khulna, the same will come into effect from 6:00am tomorrow at Paikgacha upazila, including its' municipal area and four other unions.

In Jashore, the district administration has decided to enforce restrictions at Noapara municipal area under Avoynagar upazila. However, the length of the lockdown was yet to be finalised till the filing of this report last evening.

In Rajshahi division, the death and infection rates yesterday broke all previous records.

At least 12 people died and some 673 were infected in eight districts of the division in 24-hours till 8:00am yesterday, said Nazma Akhter, assistant director of the divisional office of DGHS.

The current positivity rate in the division is 16.26 percent.

In Dinajpur, the district's civil surgeon Dr Abdus Kuddus said the Covid-19 situation is worsening there as the people are not following the health safety guidelines properly.

In Thakurgaon, the local administration and law enforcers have beefed up vigilance to enforce health safety guidelines.

Border Guard Bangladesh personnel have remained alert to check illegal cross-border movement.

In some bordering districts, lockdowns have been ongoing for the past few days as Covid-19 cases have been increasing.

(Our correspondents from respective districts contributed to the report.)