COVID-19 patients
12 more die of Covid at Khulna hospitals
Twelve more people have died of Covid-19 at three hospitals in Khulna in the past 24 hours, health officials said on Wednesday.
Nine of them were confirmed Covid-19 patients, while the remaining exhibited symptoms of the virus, the officials said.
Read: Covid claims 46 more lives in Khulna division, say officials
Of them, five died at Khulna Corona Dedicated Hospital, three at Gazi Medical College Hospital and four at the Covid unit of Khulna General Hospital.
Khulna Corona Dedicated Hospital nodal officer Dr Suhas Ranjan Haldar said that five people have died at the hospital in the past 24 hours. Of them, two were confirmed Covid-19 patients.
Read:19 more Covid patients die at Khulna hospitals
Besides, 201 people are currently undergoing treatment at the hospital. Of them, 135 are receiving treatment in the red zone, 26 in the yellow zone and 20 in the intensive care unit, said Dr Suhas.
Some 38 people were admitted to the hospital during this 24-hour period, while 21 were discharged from the hospital, he said.
Read:Khulna division records its highest deaths in a day due to Covid
Dr Gazi Mizanur Rahman, owner of the private Gazi Medical College Hospital, said three people have died at the hospital's corona unit in the past 24 hours.
Khulna General Hospital's corona unit spokesman Kazi Abu Rashed said that four Covid patients have died at the hospital since Tuesday morning.
Covid claims 203 more lives in Bangladesh, another 12,198 infected
Struggling with Covid-19’s grim second wave, Bangladesh lost 203 more lives to the deadly virus, while another 12,198 people contracted it in24 hours till Tuesday morning.
The new numbers took the country’s death tally to 16,842 and the caseload to 10,47,155, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The fresh cases were detected after testing 41,755 samples during the period, pushing up the case positivity rate to 29.21%.
According to the DGHS, 2,339 people lost the battle to Covid-19 and 125,596 more got infected as of July13.
However, the case fatality rate remained unchanged at 1.61% during the 24-hour period.
The country saw a record number of 13,768 Covid cases on Monday and the highest-ever 230 deaths on Sunday.
Also read: Bangladesh eases lockdown restrictions ahead of Eid
So far, 889,167 people have recovered from the disease, taking the country’s recovery rate to 84.91%, which is on the decline compared to other indicators.
Of the latest deaths, 61 were reported in Dhaka, 53 in Khulna, and 30 in Chattogram divisions and 27 in Rajshahi. Besides, 15 people died in Rangpur, seven in Mymensingh and five each in Barishal and Sylhet divisions.
The country saw 2,404 Covid deaths in April, 1,169 in May and 1,884 in June, making those the most fatal months of this year. Also, July was the most fatal month in 2020, reporting 1,264 deaths followed by 1,197 deaths in June that year.
Lockdown eased
The government has decided to ease all lockdown restrictions in the country for eight days ahead of Eid ul Azha.
In a notification on Tuesday morning, the cabinet division said that the lockdown restrictions will be lifted from July 14 midnight to the morning of July 23.
However, strict restrictions will resume from July 23 and will continue till August 5, as per the order.
Also read: FM reassures on adequate vaccine supply from multiple sources
Earlier on Monday, it was reported that Bangladesh Railway is going to restore its passenger train services for eight days from July 15-22 across the country, keeping 50% of the seats empty apparently to facilitate the movement of people during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.
Public transport services and business institutions will also be allowed to function.
Eid-ul-Azha will be celebrated on July 21 amid the Delta variant of Covid-19 wreaking havoc across the country, shattering records every day.
A record rise in the number of Covid cases and fatalities in recent days prompted the government to enforce a nationwide stringent lockdown suspending all outdoor activities unless there is an emergency.
Chattogram hospital to admit only Covid patients
Amid an alarming surge in coronavirus cases in the district, authorities at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) have decided to turn it into a "Covid facility".
In a notification on Monday, the authorities said that the hospital will not admit patients other than those infected with Covid. And all minor or routine operations will remain suspended at the district hospital for the time being.
Read:1.84 lakh doses of Moderna, Sinopharm vaccines reach Chattogram
Signed by CMCH Director Brigadier General SM Humayun Kabir, the notification said all operations other than that of emergency patients will remain suspended.
Only emergency patients would be admitted to the hospital. Also, patients undergoing treatment at the hospital for non-serious diseases will soon be discharged for home treatment, as per the notification.
Read:Covid-19: Chattogram logs 14 more deaths
The hospital has also made it mandatory for all doctors, nurses and other health workers to wear masks while on duty.
Director Humayun told the media that the decision was taken due to the sudden rise in the number of Covid-19 patients.
Read: 10 Covid deaths reported in Chattogram in a day
"The number of corona patients is increasing by the day. For the time being, it has been decided to admit only those who need emergency support or surgery. The other services will be restricted and the manpower of the hospital will be engaged in Covid-19 treatment," he said.
However, the authorities are letting patients in serious condition to stay on in the hospital. "They will also be discharged for home treatment as soon as their condition improves," Director Humayun said.
Covid shatters all records in Bangladesh with 230 single-day deaths, 11,856 cases
The Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh is getting more fatal with every passing day, as the country saw the highest-ever 230 deaths and 11,856 new cases in 24 hours till Sunday morning.
With the new numbers, Bangladesh’s death tally hit 16,419 while the caseload 1,021,189, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Earlier, Bangladesh reported its highest daily Covid-19 fatality of 212 on July 9, and 11, 651 cases on July 8.
However, the country’s daily case positivity rate fell to 29.67% from Saturday’s 31.46%, as 40,015 samples were tasted during the period.
The fatality rate today rose to 1.61% from Saturday’s 1.60%, said the DGHS.
Bangladesh has been seeing over 150 deaths for a week since its logging 164 deaths on July 4. Also, the average new daily detected cases remained over 10,000 for the last seven days.
Also read: Covid nightmare in Barisal division: Record caseload of 710 reported
The country saw 2,404 Covid deaths in April, 1,169 in May and 1,884 in June marking the most fatal months of this year. Also, July was the most fatal month of 2020, reporting 1,264 deaths followed by 1,197 deaths in June that year.
So far, 874,501 people recovered from the disease taking the country’s recovery rate to 85.64%, which is on the decline compared to other indicators.
Of the latest deceased, 133 were men and 97 women.
Khulna division, the emerging hotspot of Covid, saw 66 of the deaths during the 24-hour period, while Dhaka reported 56 and Chattogram 39. Besides, 26 people in Rajshahi, 22 in Rangpur, eight each in Barishal and Sylhet and five in Mymensingh divisions died of Covid-19.
Vaccination drive
The government has so far approved the emergency use of Oxford-AstraZeneca, Sinopharm (China), Sputnik-V (Russia), Pfizer-BioNTech (USA/Germany), Crona Vac (China) and Janssen single-dose vaccines.
Amid the deteriorating coronavirus situation, the government resumed the countrywide mass registration on July 8 for receiving Covid-19 jabs, which remained suspended for around three months as vaccine procurement became unsure.
Also read: 14 more covid patients die in Khulna
Bangladesh is currently administering the doses of Sinopharm vaccine and Pfizer BioNTech vaccine and also the second dose of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.
As of now, 206,140 people received the first dose of China’s Sinopharm vaccine, and 2,254 have received the second dose of it.
Meanwhile, 22,342 people have received the first jab of Pfizer vaccine, including 6,644 in the past 24 hours.
Of the Astrazeneca vaccine doses, 4,295,218 received the second shot and 5,820,033 the first one so far.
1200-bed Covid dedicated hospital to be set up in BSMMU
The government will establish a 1200-bed coronavirus dedicated hospital in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University to fight the soaring virus, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Saturday.
With over 400 ICU beds and more than 400 ICU equivalent HDO’s, this will be the most modern Covid-19 hospital in the country, said Zahid after visiting BSMMU convention centre.
He said this convention centre was chosen for the proposed Covid facility after inspecting buildings across the city following the prime minister’s direction to increase the number of beds in hospitals across the country.
Also read: Country's largest Covid-19 dedicated hospital opened in Dhaka
The government is trying to expedite the opening of the hospital by incorporating the oxygen supply facility as soon as possible, said the minister.
As 80% of the hospital beds across the country are occupied with patients there is no other option left but to increase the number of beds, he said.
Also read: Govt stops corona treatment at 3 dedicated hospitals
In the last 10 days at least 90,000 more people were infected with Covid-19 so more manpower is needed in the health service system too, he added.
BSMMU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Sharfuddin Ahmed said, the Covid dedicated hospital will be set up at the fifth floor of the convention hall and it will be named after Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib.
Bangladesh in grip of Covid’s wave; sees record 212 deaths
Bangladesh on Friday saw 212 Covid-19 deaths, the highest number since the pandemic hit the country, amid a strict nationwide lockdown in effect since July 1.
Also, Covid-19 infections in the country are at their peak now, with 9,665 new cases reported each day – the highest daily average.
The country recorded 11,324 infections in 24 hours till Friday morning after testing 36,850 samples.
Bangladesh reported its highest daily Covid-19 fatality of 201 on Wednesday and 11, 651 cases on Thursday.
The country is in the grip of a second wave of the coronavirus that is threatening to overwhelm its health service.
Also read: Dhaka reemerging as Covid hotspot as battle plan ‘fails’: Experts
There have been 1,000,543 infections and 16,004 coronavirus-related deaths in Bangladesh since the pandemic began, according to the Directorate General of Health Services.
However, the test positivity rate dropped to 14.49%. The daily positivity rate of 31.62% on Thursday raised concerns among experts as the World Health Organization recommended a 5% or below rate.
Meanwhile, the death rate remains unchanged at 1.60%, and the recovery rate dropped to 86.19%.
Khulna division reported the highest 79 deaths, Dhaka 53, Chattogram 26, Rajshahi 23, Rangpur 12, Mymensingh eight, Sylhet six and Barishal five.
Also read: Global Covid cases top 185 million
Hospitals are now overwhelmed with patients and struggling to cope as the country is experiencing a devastating second wave of Covid infections, driven by the Delta variant.
The Prime Minister's Office on Thursday directed the authorities concerned to increase oxygen supply and corona beds in hospitals across the country to ensure the treatment of Covid-19 patients.
So far, Bangladesh has administered at least 10,114,578 doses of Covid vaccines – enough to have vaccinated around 3.1% of the country's population, assuming every person needs two doses.
Increase oxygen supply, Corona beds: PMO
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Thursday directed the authorities concerned to increase oxygen supply and corona beds in hospitals across the country to ensure the treatment of Covid-19 patients.
Read:4 Covid patients die in Pabna hospital amid oxygen crisis
The PMO also urged those who are showing Covid-19 symptoms to stay home and directed the local administration to make sure that the patients with corona symptoms are kept in isolation.
The directives came from an urgent meeting held virtually with divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners to work out measures to protect the public health and ensure coordination in the ongoing government activities to check the transmission of coronavirus in the country.
Read: Quader sees no oxygen crisis
The PMO issued the directives at a time when Bangladesh is struggling with a catastrophic second wave of the Coronavirus leaving hospitals across the country overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients.
PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus joined the meeting from the PMO end and presided over it.
Read:Oxygen crisis: Probe committee gets more time to investigate deaths at Satkhira hospital
Senior Secretary of Health Services Division Lokman Hossain Miah and PMO Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah, among others, attended the meeting.
20 more die of Covid at Rajshahi hospital
Twenty more people have died of Covid-19 at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) in the past 24 hours, health officials said on Wednesday.
While two of them were confirmed Covid-19 patients, the remaining showed symptoms of the virus, said hospital director Brigadier General Shamim Yeazdani.
Read:19 more die of Covid at Rajshahi hospital
Of the deceased, seven were from Rajshahi, two each from Chapainawabganj and Natore, three from Naogaon, four from Pabna, and one each from Kushtia and Meherpur districts.
Shamim Yazdani said that 66 people have been admitted to the corona unit of the hospital in the past 24 hours.
On the other hand, some 67 people were discharged from the hospital after recovery during the period.
Read: Rajshahi hospital sees record 25 Covid deaths in single day
Besides, some 470 people are currently undergoing treatment against 454 beds at the corona unit of the hospital.
RMCH has been one of the most stretched hospitals in the country during the second wave of Covid-19, particularly since the latter part of May when the deadly Delta variant of the virus was identified in multiple samples in Rajshahi division.
Bangladesh’s Covid catastrophe worsens; 163 more lives lost
In a disastrous turn, Bangladesh recorded its highest-ever 11,525 cases in 24 hours until Tuesday morning as the case positivity rate hit 31.46%.
During the period, the country lost 163 more lives to Covid-19, according to a handout provided by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
On Monday, Bangladesh saw a record-high 9,964 cases and 164 deaths as both infections and deaths are mounting at an alarming speed.
The new numbers took the country’s death toll to 15, 392 while the caseload to 966,406.
The fresh coronavirus cases were detected after testing 36,631 samples during the period, the DGHS said.
However, the case fatality remained unchanged at 1.59% during the period.
So far, 844,515 people have recovered from the disease putting the recovery rate at 87.39%, which is declining unlike other indicators.
Also read: At 1,865, Khulna records highest single-day Covid cases
Among today’s deceased, 91 were aged above 60, 29 aged between 51-60, 27 were aged between 41-50, 11 aged between 31-40 and five were aged between 21-30, showed the DGHS handout.
Khulna division logged 46 deaths today, while Dhaka saw 45 and Rajshahi and Chattogram 24 each. Besides, 11 died in Rangpur, six in Barishal, five in Rangpur and two in Mymensingh divisions.
Covid getting deadlier in Bangladesh; record-high 153 die in 24 hours
The second wave of Covid-19 in Bangladesh is getting much deadlier with 153 more people losing lives to the virus in 24 hours till Sunday morning, pushing up the total death toll to 15,065.
With this, the daily-death record was shattered thrice in the country within eight days as 143 deaths were reported on July1 and 119 on June 27.
During the period, 8,661 more Covid cases were detected after testing 29,879 samples, overwhelming the country’s healthcare system quickly.
This raises the country's case positivity rate during the period to 28.99% from Saturday’s 27.39%, according to a handout provided by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
However, the fatality rate remained static at 1.59%
With the fresh cases, Bangladesh’s caseload mounted to 944,917 today, said the DGHS.
So far, 833,897 people have recovered from the virus infections, putting the recovery rate at 88.25%.
Khulna division today recorded 51 deaths while Dhaka saw 46. Besides, 15 people each in Chattogram and Rangpur, 12 in Rajshahi, nine in Mymensingh, three in Barishal and two in Sylhet divisions died of Covid-19 today.
The country saw 2,404 Covid deaths in April, 1,169 in May and 1,884 in June, marking those the most fatal months of this year.
Also, July was the most fatal month of 2020, reporting 1,264 deaths followed by 1,197 deaths in June that year.
Also read: Khulna logs record 46 single-day Covid deaths
Herd immunity unlikely anytime soon
Although its study suggests around 71 percent of Dhaka city dwellers have already gained antibodies for coronavirus, an icddr,b scientist says herd immunity threshold is still out of reach in Bangladesh’s capital, let alone the whole country to reach it.
Dr Rubhana Raqib, a senior scientist at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), also says it may not be possible to attain the long-term herd immunity for Covid-19 as long as the virus continues to mutate as she thinks highly contagious new variants can break people’s immune protection gained either from the previous infections or vaccination.
In a recent interview with UNB, she also said it is generally assumed that Covid-19 may remain active like influenza and other flues for a long time and it is quite possible that people will need to receive the vaccine at a regular interval until the virus loses its mutation or virulence capability.
icddr,b conducted a study titled “Driving Factors of Covid-19 in Slums and Non-Slum Areas of Dhaka and Chittagong,” between October 2020 and February 2021 to evaluate the extent of the spread of the virus in the slum and non-slum communities of the two cities.