Going through the most frightening stage of Covid-19, Bangladesh registered another highest single-day death toll of 247 in 24 hours till Monday morning.

 Besides, the highest-ever 15,192 cases were reported during the period after testing 50,952 samples, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Hospitals across the country are struggling to treat the growing number of patients amid shortage of beds and medical supplies.

With Covid's Delta variant spreading fast, the country's fatalities had been hovering at nearly 200 for the last two weeks. It reported the highest daily Covid-19 fatality number – 231 – on July 19 and 13,768 infections on the 12th of the month.

The new numbers took the country’s death tally to 19,521 today while the caseload to 1,179,827, said the DGHS.

Also read: Covid fatality rate 90% among elderly villagers, says health minister

The country has been seeing nearly 9,000 cases on average every day for the past seven days.

Meanwhile, the daily test positivity rate decreased to 29. 82 % from Sunday's 30.04 %, while the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a 5% or below rate.

However, the case fatality rate remained static at 1.65% during the period, said the DGHS.

The recovery rate fell slightly to 85.50% from Sunday’s 85.77% with 11,052 patients recovering during the 24-hour period.

Dhaka, the worst hit division, recorded the highest 72 of the deaths today, followed by 61 in Chattogram, 46 in Khulna ,21 in Rajshahi, 16 in Rangpur, 14 in Sylhet and 12 in Barishal and five in Mymensingh divisions.

Of them, 141 were men and 106 were women.

As per their age breakdowns, two were between 11-20, three between 21-30, 16 between 31-40, 13 between 41-50, 59 between 51-60 and 152 were above 60, the release added.

Also read: Covid-19 Surge: Too many patients for a few hospital beds

5000+ lives lost in July

Reporting 5,018 deaths so far, July has become the most fatal month since the country saw its first Covid cases in March, 2020.

Earlier, 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.

Fatality rate 90% among elderly villagers

Emphasizing the importance of vaccination for Covid-19 in rural areas, Health and Family Planning Minister Zahid Maleque Monday said, “In hospitals, 70% of Covid patients are older people from villages while the fatality rate among them is 90%.”

Following the Prime Minister’s directive, the vaccination campaign will now be accelerated at ward, union and upazila levels, said the minister.

Maleque was briefing reporters after attending the Cabinet meeting on Monday.

He said initiatives have been taken to vaccinate elderly people from the ward level as they are more reluctant about receiving it.

The minister also emphasized ensuring more Covid-19 tests from the rural areas.