While the confirmed Covid-19 cases reached 104,832,983, the deaths from the virus infection touched 2,281,980 on Friday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University (JHU).

The world's most powerful country, the US remained the globe's worst-hit, with 26,672,920 Covid cases and 455,657 deaths, as per the university data.

Infectious disease specialists expect deaths to start dropping soon, after new cases hit a peak right around the beginning of the year. New Covid-19 deaths could ebb as early as next week, said the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reports AP.

Also read: DGDA OKs use of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

But there’s also the risk that improving trends in infections and hospitalisations could be offset by people relaxing and coming together — including this Sunday, to watch football, she added.

“I’m worried about Super Bowl Sunday, quite honestly,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Thursday in an interview with The Associated Press.

Brazil has the world's second-highest Covid death toll after the United States. It has registered a total caseload of 9,396,293 and 228,795 fatalities, as per the university data.

So far, neighbouring India has recorded 10,790,183 Covid cases and 154,703 deaths, according to the Indian Health Ministry.

Also read:Will children be able to get COVID-19 vaccines?

Situation in Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s Covid-19 fatalities rose to 8,175 on Thursday after the health authorities recorded 13 more coronavirus-related deaths in 24 hours till morning.

“The mortality rate is now 1.52 percent,” the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said in a handout.

Meanwhile, 485 new cases were identified, pushing up the national tally to 537,030.

The daily detection rate fell to 3.18 percent while the current overall rate is 14.48 percent. So far, 3,708,907 samples have been tested, including 15,273 in the past 24 hours.

Until the morning, 481,917 patients (89.74 percent) have recovered.

Bangladesh reported its first Coronavirus cases on March 8 and the first death on March 18.

Also read:Covid-19 vaccine not a 'silver bullet': WHO

Vaccination in Bangladesh

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina launched a Covid-19 vaccination drive at Kurmitola General Hospital in the capital on January 27.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque said at the launch that “70 lakh doses of Covid-19 vaccines are now available in the country. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is the safest one in the world".

For getting a shot, one needs to register on www.surokkha.gov.bd.

For now, the vaccination programme will be limited to five centres in the capital and nationwide inoculation will start in early February.