Besides, five more people died from COVID-19 during the period, raising the number of total deaths to 39, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said on Monday.

"A total of 182 patients were diagnosed with coronavirus infection in the past 24 hours and five more people died during the same period. The total death toll now stands at 39," the Health Minister said as part of the daily bulletin broadcast online on coronavirus.

A total of 1,570 samples were tested in the last 24 hours, the Health Minister said.

"Community transmission has already started …we’ve to stay alert and ensure that it doesn't spread further… please stay indoors," he added.

He reiterated that Bangladesh is still in a better condition compared to the USA and Europe. "No country can treat millions of patients in its hospitals."  

Three more people recovered in the past 24 hours, raising the total number of recovered patients to 42.

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The minister assured that the government is taking drastic steps to combat the outbreak.  "We’re allowing every district medical college and private medical college for coronavirus treatment...a building is being constructed at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University to treat coronavirus patients only," he said.

The minister noted that negotiations are underway with private hospitals, including Shahabuddin Hospital and Anwar Khan Medical College Hospital for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. "We’re also adding private hospitals in each district to this list," he added. 

Earlier, Zahid Maleque mentioned that lockdown procedures should be maintained in a tougher way.

"We’re seeing that infection has spread to many areas. Most of those carriers are from Dhaka or Narayanganj. So, lockdown has to be implemented and followed more strictly...People aren't fully complying with the lockdown rules," he said.

No further details about the infected people or the deceased were shared in the bulletin.