Bangladesh logged 17 more Covid-related deaths in 24 hours until Wednesday morning, the lowest number in 68 days.

The country saw 16 Covid-19 deaths on March 18 last.

Besides, 1,497 new cases were recorded taking the total caseload to 7,93,693, said a handout of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).  

The Covid-19 positivity rate declined to 9.11 percent from Tuesday’s 10.08 percent while the mortality rate remained static at 1.57 percent, the handout said.

Health authorities recorded the new cases after testing 16,434 samples in the last 24 hours.  

With 1,056 recoveries in the past 24 hours, the country's recovery rate now stands at 92.46.

As of now, 7,33,866 people have recovered from the disease.  

Eight of the 17 deaths recorded today are from Chattogram and five are from Dhaka divisions.

Also read: Bangladesh braces for worst Covid outbreak by June-end: Experts

One each died in Khulna, Barishal, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions.

The country so far carried out 58,71,353 sample tests since reporting its first coronavirus cases on March 8 last year and the first death on March 18, 2020.

Vaccination drive  

Bangladesh launched its vaccination drive on February 7 with Oxford-AstraZeneca doses purchased from India's Serum Institute.  

The administration of the first dose remained suspended since April 26.  

Also, the country, the prime recipient of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines, has suspended the registration for Covid-19 jabs due to short supply of doses amid a delay in timely arrival of shipments from India.

However, the administering of the 1st dose of Chinese Sinopharm vaccine against Covid-19 began on Tuesday.

Also read: Schools, colleges to reopen on June 13: Dipu Moni

Reopening of educational institutions

The government has decided to reopen educational institutions, particularly primary, secondary and higher secondary ones, in Bangladesh on June 13 if the Covid-19 situation does not deteriorate.

“We’ve decided to reopen all the educational institutions -- primary, secondary and higher secondary ones -- on June 13. We expect the situation to be much more favourable by the time,” said Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni at a virtual press conference on Wednesday.

About reopening universities, the Education Minister said the decision will be taken in consultation with the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the university authorities.  

The minister, however, said reopening of public universities depends on vaccination among their resident students, teachers and staff.