Daily Covid cases still over 7,000

Bangladesh yesterday recorded more than 7,000 Covid-19 cases for the fifth time in six days even as the country undergoes a weeklong lockdown to contain the virus transmission.

In a 24-hour period ending at 8:00am, 7,462 new cases were registered with the infection rate jumping to 23.57 percent.

The number of cases was 6,854 on Thursday. On April 4, the country recorded 7,087 Covid-19 cases and 7,075 the next day. On April 6, the number was 7,213, followed by 7,626 the next day.

Sixty-three more people died from Covid-19, said the Directorate General of Health Services yesterday, a day after the country recorded highest 74 deaths.

The total fatalities stood at 9,584 while the mortality rate dropped to 1.42 percent.

During the 24-hour period, 3,511 patients recovered, taking the number of recoveries to 568,541.

A sharp rise in both infections and deaths prompted the government to issue an 18-point directive before imposing a weeklong lockdown on Monday. But people defied the restrictions and carried on as usual. Shops have been reopened and public transport are being allowed to operate in city corporation areas.

Bangladesh reported its first coronavirus cases on March 8 last year and the first death 10 days later.

The virus claimed 568 lives in January this year in Bangladesh, 281 in February and 638 in March.

The country has so far recorded 673,594 coronavirus cases, according to DGHS.

Daily cases and infection rate had dropped below 5 percent earlier this year, but then rose sharply. 

The huge number of patients are putting a severe pressure on hospitals.

HIGHEST DEATHS IN DHAKA

Bangladesh has so far tested 4,947,412 samples, including 31,654 in the last 24 hours.

Of yesterday's 63 deceased, 42 died in Dhaka division, 10 in Chattogram, two in Rajshahi, three in Khulna, four in Barishal and one each in Sylhet and Mymensingh.

So far, 5,524 coronavirus patients died in Dhaka division, 1,719 in Chattogram, 607 in Khulna, 522 in Rajshahi, 288 in Barishal, 334 in Sylhet, 381 in Rangpur and 208 in Mymensingh.

Of them, 7,173 are men and 2,411 women.