An alarming surge of Covid-19 claimed 71 lives in Khulna division in 24 hours until Friday, the highest single-day fatalities in the division, said divisional health department authorities.
During the period, 1,656 people were infected with the deadly virus.
On Wednesday, Khulna recorded the highest single-day Covid deaths at 60.
Dr Rasheda Sultana, director (Health), said 23 people died of coronavirus in Khulna in 24 hours, 14 in Kushtia, nine in Jashore, 10 in Jhenaidah, six in Chuadanga, five in Meherpur, two in Bagerhat and one each in Magura and Narail districts.
In the Khulna division, the first case of Covid-19 was detected in Chuadanga on March 19, 2020.
Overall, 69,187 people have been infected with the virus in 10 districts of the division and the death toll from the virus reached 1,487.
Also read: Khulna Division records 51 more single-day Covid deaths
Some 44,727 people have recovered to date in the Khulna division.
An analysis of the district-wise covid data of the divisional health department shows that Khulna recorded the highest number of 296 infection cases in the last 24 hours. So far, 18,194 people have been infected with covid-19 and 392 people died in the district. Besides, 12,291 recovered from the disease.
In Khulna district, 27 people have died of Covid-19 at four different hospitals in the past 24 hours, health officials said on Friday.
While 11 people died at the dedicated Covid facility of Khulna Medical College and Hospital, five succumbed to the virus at the corona unit of Khulna General Hospital, 10 at the private Gazi Medical College Hospital and one at Shaheed Sheikh Abu Naser Specialised Hospital.
Why is Khulna seeing such an alarming surge?
Health experts have indicated some incidents that might have caused such a severe surge in this region.
Also read: Khulna division logs 60 singe-day deaths, 1,900 cases
Khulna Corona Dedicated Hospital's nodal officer Dr Suhas Ranjan Haldar said many patients and people have come from India and the frontier districts through Benapole and Darshana land ports in the past few weeks. Due to which the disease is spreading in this region.
"Maybe a person came and was roaming in the area without maintaining a home quarantine. Consequently, a week later he may be tested positive with the virus. By this time, many people get infected in rural areas," he added.
Ignoring health rules is the number one cause behind the worsening Covid situation in Khulna, he said.
Khulna Civil Surgeon Dr Niaz Mohammod said the infection had spread before the lockdown. "That is why the infection rate and death toll have increased."
However, Dr Niaz is hopeful that the infection rate will decrease in a short time if the lockdown continues and health protocol is followed.