In a disastrous turn, Bangladesh recorded its highest-ever 11,525 cases in 24 hours until Tuesday morning as the case positivity rate hit 31.46%.  

During the period, the country lost 163 more lives to Covid-19, according to a handout provided by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

On Monday, Bangladesh saw a record-high 9,964 cases and 164 deaths as both infections and deaths are mounting at an alarming speed.  

The new numbers took the country’s death toll to 15, 392 while the caseload to 966,406.  

The fresh coronavirus cases were detected after testing 36,631 samples during the period, the DGHS said.  

However, the case fatality remained unchanged at 1.59% during the period. 

So far, 844,515 people have recovered from the disease putting the recovery rate at 87.39%, which is declining unlike other indicators.  

Also read: At 1,865, Khulna records highest single-day Covid cases

Among today’s deceased, 91 were aged above 60, 29 aged between 51-60, 27 were aged between 41-50, 11 aged between 31-40 and five were aged between 21-30, showed the DGHS handout.  

Khulna division logged 46 deaths today, while Dhaka saw 45 and Rajshahi and Chattogram 24 each. Besides, 11 died in Rangpur, six in Barishal, five in Rangpur and two in Mymensingh divisions.

The country saw 2,404 Covid deaths in April, 1,169 in May and 1,884 in June, marking those 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.

Vaccine registration

The mass registration process for Covid-19 vaccination is currently suspended in Bangladesh only with an exemption to the frontline law enforcement forces, medical students and residential students of universities.

The eligible age for receiving Covid-19 jabs in Bangladesh will be officially lowered to 35, from the current 40, said DGHS DG Dr ABM Khurshid Alam on Monday.

Farmers and workers are going to be included in the list for vaccine registration, said the DGHS DG.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh expatriate workers travelling abroad are now eligible to register for the Covid-19 vaccine through the government's "Surokkha" app, said Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmed on Monday.

Also read: Chinese firms working with Bangladeshi partners for vaccine co-production

"The registration of expatriate workers for jabs has started on a priority basis. Based on the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) database and registrations with Surokkha, the inoculation drive for the expatriate workers will begin with the Pfizer-BioNTech at seven centres in Dhaka for the ones going to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait," the minister said.

Meanwhile, the age-based priority list has been readjusted for expatriate workers. They can now use their passports to complete the registration if they do not have national identity cards.

However, to be eligible for registration under the expatriate workers' category, the workers have to be registered with the BMET first, Imran Ahmed said.

Besides, those who want to go abroad for education or treatment purposes have to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with necessary documents to receive the vaccine and registration process, said chairperson of the vaccine deployment committee through DGHS.

Bangladesh is currently administering the doses of Sinopharm vaccine and Pfizer BioNTech vaccine and also the second dose of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.