Bangladesh on Friday recorded more than 7,000 coronavirus cases for the fifth time in six days even as the country undergoes a weeklong lockdown to contain the virus’ transmission.

In a 24-hour period until the morning, 7,462 new cases were registered with the infection rate jumping to 23.57 percent.

The number of cases was 6,854 on Thursday. On April 4, the country recorded 7,087 covid cases and 7,075 the next day. On April 6, the number was 7,213, followed by 7,626 the next day.

On Friday, 63 covid-related deaths were confirmed by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), a day after the country recorded 74 deaths, its highest.

The local fatalities stand at 9,584 while the mortality rate dropped to 1.42 percent.

During this 24-hour period, 3,511 patients recovered, taking the number of recoveries to 568,541.

Also read: Govt considering complete lockdown from April 14: Quader

A sharp rise in both infections and deaths prompted the government to issue an 18-point directive before imposing a weeklong lockdown. But people defied the restrictions and carried on as usual. Shops have been reopened and public transport are being allowed to operate in city corporation areas.

The government has hinted at imposing a strict lockdown from April 14.

Bangladesh reported its first coronavirus cases on March 8 last year and the first death 10 days later. Covid cases were first reported in China in December 2019. Since then, the number of global cases has surpassed 133 million and the death toll is nearing 3 million.

The virus claimed 568 lives in January this year in Bangladesh, 281 in February and 638 in March.

The country has so far recorded 673,594 coronavirus cases, according to DGHS.

Daily cases and infection rate had dropped below 5 percent earlier this year but then rose sharply as people remained reluctant about maintaining health safety rules.  

Also read: Covid-19: Hasina for balancing livelihoods and public health

The huge number of patients are putting a severe pressure on the hospitals. The government says it is increasing beds for covid patients.

Dhaka records highest death toll

Bangladesh has so far tested 4,947,412 samples, including 31,654 in the last 24 hours.

Of the latest victims, 42 died in Dhaka division, 10 in Chattogram, two in Rajshahi, three in Khulna, four in Barishal and one each in Sylhet and Mymensingh.

So far, 5,524 coronavirus patients died in Dhaka division, 1,719 in Chattogram, 522 in Rajshahi, 607 in Khulna, 288 in Barishal, 334 in Sylhet, 381 in Rangpur and 208 in Mymensingh division.

Of the total victims, 7,173 are men (74.84) and 2,411 women (25.16).

Also read: Bangladesh begins second phase of Covid-19 vaccination drive

Vaccination drive

The government launched a countrywide vaccination campaign on February 7 with doses received from the Serum Institute of India.

Bangladesh on Thursday began its second phase of inoculating people amid uncertainty over the availability of vaccine.