NTAC urges wearing masks

As the health directorate yesterday reported 12.72 percent Covid-19 positivity rate, the highest since July 20, the National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19 has placed five recommendations to contain the disease in the country.

The committee issued the recommendations following its 59th meeting held on Saturday.

The committee recommended the government to take initiatives to reduce the cost of Covid-19 tests at private level, according to a press release.

Currently, the charge for a Covid test is Tk 100 in public facilities while Tk 2,500 in private facilities. In India, it is less than Tk 1,000 in private facilities.

The NTAC also urged people to follow hygiene rules, including ensuring wearing of masks and hand washing or use of sanitisers.

The committee has suggested all to avoid holding meetings in confined spaces and to conduct office meetings virtually as much as possible.

Besides, those who are not vaccinated with three doses against Covid-19 have been urged to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

527 NEW CASES

No Covid-19 deaths were reported in 24 hours till 8:00am yesterday, read a Directorate General of Health Services press release.

The total number of Covid-19 deaths in the country remains at 29,339 and the mortality rate is 1.45 percent.

At least 527 new infections from Covid-19 were recorded in the 24 hours. The total number of cases rose to 2,017,614, added the release.

A total of 4,143 samples were tested across the country yesterday.

The overall positivity rate was 13.61 percent.

At least 284 patients recovered from Covid-19 during the period. The total number of recoveries now stands at 1,960,615 and the recovery rate at 97.17 percent, added the release.

After a downward trend for around a month, the number of daily case detection has started rising since early this month.

Meanwhile, the health minister has announced that no first and second doses of Covid-19 vaccines will be given after September 11 as the expiry date will end by that time.