Bangladesh recorded 363 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours until Sunday morning as the number of sample tests declined drastically since the beginning of Eid holidays.
Only 5,430 samples were tested during the period which were two or three times higher before Eid-ul-Fitr. So far, 5,707,716 tests have been carried out.
Besides, the country saw 25 deaths taking the death toll to 12,149, according to a handout of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Read:Bangladesh extends lockdown until May 23
Bangladesh reported 25 Coronavirus fatalities on March 24 and the number continued to go up since then. It experienced a surge in cases in April but the daily count fell below 2,000 in early May.
The mortality rate rose to 1.56 percent from Saturday’s 1.55 percent while the infection rate stood at 6.69 percent, the DGHS said.
Bangladesh has so far confirmed 780,159 Coronavirus cases. The country reported its first cases on March 8 last year and the first death on March 18, 2020.
Meanwhile, 601 people have recovered from Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, putting the recovery rate at 92.55%.
Lockdown extended till May 23
The government extended the ongoing lockdown for another week until May 23 with two new directives alongside the existing ones to contain the spread of Covid-19.
A circular was issued by the Cabinet Division in this regard on Sunday.
It said all offices and agencies relating to revenue collection will be considered as emergency service providers.
Read:Return to Dhaka after lockdown ends: Mayor Taposh
Besides, restaurants and eateries will remain open with only takeaway/online services.
As coronavirus cases kept growing at an alarming rate since mid-March, the government imposed a nationwide lockdown from April 5 as part of its move to contain its spread. But with no improvement in sight, the government went for stricter lockdown and extended it in phases.
Schools, colleges to remain closed until May 29
The government has again extended the closure of secondary and higher secondary level educational institutions until May 29.
The decision was taken considering the safety of students, teachers and staffers after consultation with the National Advisory Committee on Covid-19, the Education Ministry said in a handout.
During the closure online classes will continue, it said.
The government shut educational institutions on March 17 last year, just over a week after the country reported its first Covid-19 cases.
Read:Closure of schools, colleges extended until May 29
The closure was extended several times, most recently until May 23 this year.
On February 22, the education minister announced that university classes would resume on May 24.
Residential halls were scheduled to be reopened on May 17.