Health authorities logged 5,727 more new Covid-19 cases in Bangladesh with a positivity rate of 20.27% in 24 hours until Wednesday morning as the Coronavirus keeps wreaking havoc on the country in its 2nd wave.
This is the highest number of cases registered in a single day since 13 April.
The positivity rate in the country rose to 20.27% from Tuesday’s 19.36%, according to a handout of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Besides, the deadly virus claimed the lives of 85 more people during the 24-hour period, bringing the national tally to 13,787.
This is the highest since 20 April when the country logged 88 deaths in a single day.
The fresh cases pushed up the total caseload to 8,66,877, the handout added.
However, the mortality rate remained static at 1.59%.
So far, 791,553 people have recovered from the virus infections with 3,168 new ones.
Among the recent deceased, 55 were men and 30 were women. Of them, 10 between 31-40, 11 between 41-50, 18 between 51-60 and 46 were above 60 years of old.
The highest number of 36 deaths were recorded in Khulna division followed by Dhaka and Rajshahi with 19 and 18 deaths respectively.
Also read: Nationwide lockdown not needed if transmission in Dhaka, nearby districts is controlled: DGHS
The number of deaths was 7 in Chattogram, 3 in Mymensingh and 1 each in Barishal and Rangpur.
How to avert nationwide lockdown
The countrywide lockdown will not be necessary if Covid-19 transmission can be controlled in Dhaka and its adjacent districts, says the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
DGHS spokesperson Dr Robed Amin came up with the remark at its daily virtual briefing on Covid-19 on Wednesday.
“We’re observing the infection rates both in Dhaka and the surrounding districts. If the situation worsens in the capital first, a lockdown will be imposed in Dhaka and then across the country,” he said.
Lockdown extended in Rajshahi
Lockdown was extended for another week in Rajshahi city on Wednesday in an effort to bring the worsening coronavirus situation under control.
Abdul Jalil, deputy commissioner of Rajshahi, made the announcement following a meeting at his office on Wednesday afternoon.
Now the lockdown, which started on June 11, will remain in force until June 30.
Also read: Let's see what can be done, have patience: PM about vaccine management
Rajshahi recorded 18 new Covid-related deaths in 24 hours, according to the DGHS handout.
A total of 245 people have died of Covid-19 at the corona unit of Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital in the last 23 days, according to sources.
36 deaths in Khulna!
Covid-19 continues to choke lives out of the residents of Khulna as 36 people died in the division in the last 24 hours, the highest in the country.
At Khulna General Hospital, some 156 patients are currently undergoing treatment at the corona unit.
Of them, 98 people are getting treatment in the red zone of the hospital, 22 in the yellow zone, 20 in ICU (intensive care unit), and 16 in HDU (high deficiency unit), reported our correspondent citing hospital sources.