Reeling from the devastating second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, Bangladesh on Monday saw 231 deaths related to the virus, the highest number since the pandemic hit the country, amid an eight-day pause in the nationwide strict lockdown.

The situation is likely to get even worse because of the fallout from the lockdown pause ahead of Eid holidays.  

With Covid's Delta variant spreading fast, Bangladesh already tallied more than 1.1 million infections and 18,000-plus deaths from the pandemic. The country's fatalities have been hovering at approximately 200 for the last two weeks.

Also, Covid-19 infections in Bangladesh have reached 99% of the peak, with more than 11,828 new cases reported each day. The highest daily average was reported on July 15.

Also read: Delta variant in children: Chattogram reveals troubling data

The country recorded 13,321 infections in 24 hours till Monday morning after testing 45,012 samples.

Bangladesh reported its highest daily Covid-19 fatality of 230 on July 11 and 13,768 infections the next day.

The country is in the grip of a second wave of the coronavirus that is threatening to overwhelm its health service.

There have been 1,117,310 infections and 18,125 coronavirus-related deaths in Bangladesh since the pandemic began, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Meanwhile, the daily test positivity rate rose to 29.59% when the World Health Organization recommends a 5% or below rate.

However, the death rate remained unchanged at 1.62%, and the recovery rate dropped to 84.25%.

Dhaka division reported the highest 73 deaths, Khulna 57, Chattogram 43, Rangpur 17, Rajshahi 16, Mymensingh 11, Sylhet eight and Barishal six.

Hospitals are now overwhelmed with patients and struggling to cope as the country is experiencing a devastating second wave of Covid infections, driven by the Delta variant.

Also read:Covid kills 225 more in Bangladesh as cases cross 1.1 million-mark

So far, Bangladesh has administered at least 10,908,272 doses of Covid vaccines – enough to have vaccinated around 3.1% of the country's population, assuming every person needs two doses.

Lockdown eased is lockdown breached

As the Covid-19 onslaught continues in the country, millions of people are rushing in for festival shopping and travel this week. The government has lifted Covid curbs for seven days ahead of Eid-ul-Azha despite fears that crowding at shopping centres, cattle markets, and big gatherings could become super-spreader events.

The country imposed its toughest lockdown at the start of July. Under the lockdown, people were only allowed to leave home to buy essentials and for emergencies.

However, with the recent removal of the curbs ahead of Eid celebrations, people were seen breaking Covid-19 rules while they were on the streets and in the markets and malls.

Also, thousands of people are flocking to cattle markets set up throughout the country starting from remote villages up to cities. However, there is little evidence of social distancing.

The DGHS Sunday expressed concern over health protocol breaches at the cattle markets across the country where trading of sacrificial animals is underway, with Eid-ul-Azha just around the corner.