With the Delta variant of Covid-19 playing havoc, Bangladesh on Thursday reported the highest-ever 143 deaths in 24 hours till Thursday morning.

This is the highest single-day deaths in Bangladesh since the detection of its first Covid cases here on March 8, last year.

The country also recorded 8,301 more cases during the period.

The positivity rate of caseload rose to 25.90% during the period from Wednesday’s 25.13% after the test of 32,055 samples, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

However, the fatality rate remained static at 1.59%.

With the new numbers, the country's death toll mounted to 14, 646 while the caseload stood at 921,559.

So far, 820, 913 patients recovered from the disease putting the recovery rate at 89.08%, following a continuous decline.  

Barely four days back, on June 27, Bangladesh had seen a record 119 Covid deaths. The highest-ever 8,822 cases were also reported on Wednesday.

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.

Also read: Bangladesh enters total lockdown; Dhaka wears a deserted look

Forty-six of the 143 deaths were reported in Khulna today while the Dhaka division saw 35 deaths.

Besides, 19 deaths in Rajshahi, 15 in Chattogram, 10 in Rangpur, eight in Barishal, seven in Sylhet and three in Mymensingh divisions were reported during the period.

Bangladesh enters total lockdown

The complete lockdown in Bangladesh came into effect on Thursday morning to mitigate the spread of Coronavirus, which will continue till July 7 midnight.

Army personnel started patrolling the streets of Dhaka and other parts across the country in aid of the civil administration as the government scrambles to bring the Covid-19 situation under control.

Police have set up barricades and check-posts at all important points to monitor the movement of vehicles as well as people.

Lockdown rules

All the government non-government, autonomous and private offices will remain closed during the lockdown period.

All modes of public transport, including those of road, river, railway and air, will remain suspended during the lockdown. All the shopping malls and markets will also remain closed.

All the tourist spots, resorts and community centres will remain closed while all kinds of public gatherings, including social programmes, birthday and picnic parties, political and religious events will remain suspended until further notice.

The offices, staffers and vehicles of the organisations providing emergency services, including law enforcement, agricultural products (fertilizer, seeds, pesticides, machinery), crops, food-laden vehicles, relief distribution, health services, health workers involved in mass inoculation, power, water, gas, fire services, port activities, media (print and electronic media), telephone, private security services, and bank, pharmacy and postal services will remain out of the purview of the restriction, and their staff and employees can move showing ID cards.

Also read: Lockdown: Police arrest 550 for violations on Dhaka streets

However, the restriction will not be applicable for carrying goods, emergency services and production. But the offices related to air, maritime and river and land ports will remain out of the preview of the lockdown.

Industries and factories will remain open subject to maintaining health protocols.

Kitchen markets and shops with daily essentials will remain open from 9 am to 5 pm, and customers can purchase their goods following health safety protocols. Local administrations and the authorities concerned will ensure it.

No one will be allowed to venture out except for certain emergency needs (to purchase medicines, daily essentials, to take medical services and burial/ cremation of dead bodies, taking Covid-19 jabs etc). Legal action will be taken against those who will violate the restrictions.

Hotels and restaurants can operate from 8 am to 8 pm with takeaway/online services only.

Those who need to take vaccines can move after showing vaccine cards.