Fatalities have risen to 7,718 since the first death was reported in the country on March 18.
The country’s caseload now stands at 519,905, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
So far, 3,317,810 tests, including 15,634 new ones, have been carried out. The overall infection rate now stands at 15.67 percent and the mortality rate is 1.48 percent.
However, 464,446 patients – 89.33 percent – have so far recovered.
The country’s infection number reached the 500,000-mark on December 20. The first cases were reported on March 8. The death toll exceeded 7,000 on December 12.
The government has been urging people to follow health safety measures. It has also adopted a “no mask, no service” policy to prevent the spread of the virus.
Also read: Is Bangladesh ready to distribute a Covid-19 vaccine?
Global Situation
The global caseload has surpassed 87 million.
According to Johns Hopkins University, the overall death toll from coronavirus stood at 1,881,926 globally, while the total cases mounted to 87,150,958 as of Thursday morning.
The US is the worst-hit country, with the world’s highest number of cases and deaths at 21,292,109 and 360,999, respectively, according to the university data.
India comes second in terms of COVID cases, at 10,374,932, while the country’s death toll soared to 150,114 this morning, according to the Health Ministry.
Brazil registered 1,242 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the national death toll to 198,974, the Ministry of Health announced on Wednesday.
Also read:US allows emergency COVID-19 vaccine in bid to end pandemic
The country confirmed 63,430 new cases, taking the nationwide count to 7,873,830, it added.
Brazil is currently seeing a second wave of COVID-19 outbreaks, with a significant increase in cases since December that has pushed the public healthcare system to the brink of collapse in several regions.
Vaccine progress
Bangladeshi pharmaceutical company Globe Biotech has gotten approval from the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) for manufacturing Covid-19 vaccine for clinical trial on December 28.
Also read:Covid-19: Globe Biotech gets nod to manufacture vaccine for clinical trial
Dr Mohammad Mohiuddin, Manager of Globe Biotech Limited (Head of Quality Operation), said “Vaccine will be available by June if we can begin the clinical trial this month,”
On October 5, the Bangladeshi pharmaceutical company said they have completed all the necessary preparations for making their vaccine initiative a success, but they said everything depended on the government’s cooperation in completing the required processes.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh is also set to purchase Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine from the Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd.
On Sunday, India, the world’s second-most populous country, authorised its first two COVID-19 vaccines — the Oxford-AstraZeneca one and another developed by an Indian company.
Also read:Global Covid cases surpass 87 million
In Bangladesh, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Monday cleared confusion about the timely delivery of Covid-19 vaccine to Bangladesh, saying it will get the vaccine from India on time.
"A decision has been taken at the highest level and that would be implemented. Nobody has to worry or get panicked," he told reporters sharing the updates they received from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque also assured that Bangladesh will receive the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine from the Serum Institute on time.
Also read: Covid-19 vaccines: Bangladesh has 'limited choices'