The Covid-19 pandemic started to ease around the world this week after a three-and-a-half-month rampage of ever-increasing infections, AFP data published yesterday showed.

The daily death toll from Covid-19 rose again yesterday as the health directorate reported 36 deaths in 24 hours till 8:00am, up from 30 the previous day.

Speakers at a scientific seminar today said Pfizer’s new anti-Covid drug “Paxlovid” will be a game changer in the treatment of Covid-19 patients with mild to moderate symptoms as it reduces the risks of hospitalisation and death by around 89 percent.

Johnson & Johnson created a plan last year to limit the financial bleeding from billions of dollars in jury awards to plaintiffs who alleged the company’s Baby Powder and other talc products caused deadly cancers. The healthcare and consumer-goods giant assigned more than 30 staffers to “Project Plato.” In a memo on the project in July, a company lawyer warned the team: Tell no one, not even your spouse.

The following is a summary of some recent studies on Covid-19. They include research that warrants further study to corroborate the findings and that has yet to be certified by peer review.

At least 8,359 new infections were recorded and 36 people died from Covid-19 in 24 hours till 8:00 am today, said a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

A study in monkeys pitting the current Moderna Inc Covid-19 booster against an Omicron-specific booster showed no significant differences in protection, suggesting an Omicron-specific booster may not be needed, US government researchers reported on Friday.

The dried ripe fruits of the “horitoki” tree, also known as chebulic myrobalan (Terminalia chebula), have been used as an integral part of the subcontinent’s traditional medicine for ages.

Covid fatalities have risen alarmingly over the past week, which saw more than 75 percent of the total deaths from coronavirus in the country since January 3.

The Covid-19 positivity rate in the port city has been showing a downward trend for four consecutive days now.

At least 9,052 new infections were recorded and 30 people died from Covid-19 in 24 hours till 8:00 am today, said a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

The BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron has been found in five African countries, a World Health Organization scientist said on Thursday, adding she was concerned about the development because samples of BA.2 may not be spotted as a form of Omicron.

The government has extended the coronavirus restrictions to February 21 as over 10,000 cases were detected every day for the last 10 days.

Chirata or Swertia chirayita (Gentianaceae) is a popular medicinal herb, native to regions of temperate Himalayas. The shrubs can be two-three feet long.

A seven-year-old child has been fighting for his life at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) for the last three days. His parents and relatives said this is a result of “wrong treatment” at a private hospital.

With the number of cancer patients increasing rapidly, the government should take urgent action to integrate early detection and screening into the national health system, developing effective strategies to raise people’s awareness to fight the deadly disease, health experts say.

Sirajul Haque Khan, a retired banker, felt a pain in his head after waking up on a cold winter morning in mid-December, 2020. Soon, he threw up twice, compelling his family members to take him to a nearby hospital.

European Investment Bank (EIB), the bank of the European Union and the largest multilateral lender in the world, will provide €250 million to Bangladesh to support procurement of safe and effective vaccines and country-wide immunisation against Covid-19.

An unusually designed nose-only mask that can be can worn while dining out has faced criticism and ridicule online after it was released in South Korea.

India today said a consistent decline in daily active Covid-19 cases and daily positivity rate indicate the spread of the infection has gone down, as the country’s education ministry proposed reopening of schools with strict adherence to updated guidelines.