Bangladesh recorded 25 more coronavirus-related deaths in 24 hours until Monday morning, pushing the fatalities to 12,401.

The infection rate declined to 8.15 percent from Sunday’s 8.90 percent while the mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.57 percent, said a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Besides, 1,441 people were found infected with Covid-19 after testing 17,683 samples.

With the fresh cases, the country’s coronavirus caseload reached 790,521, said the handout.

The recovery rate now stands at 92.54% with 834 recoveries in the last 24 hours. The number of recoveries stayed below 1,000 in the last three days.

Read: Strict lockdown in Chapai Nawabganj amid Covid-19 surge

Bangladesh has so far tested 5,838,295 samples since reporting its first coronavirus cases on March 8 last year and the first death on March 18, 2020. 

Lockdown extended

The government has extended the ongoing lockdown by another week until May 30 but is allowing public buses to operate at half of their capacities.

The Cabinet Division issued a circular in this regard on Sunday. Everyone will have to maintain health protocols like wearing masks, said the circular. 

Besides, hotels and restaurants will be allowed to keep open with half of their capacities. 

The authorities concerned have been asked to take necessary steps in this regard.

As coronavirus cases kept on growing at an alarming rate since mid-March, the government imposed a ‘loose’ nationwide lockdown for one week from April 5.

Later, a ‘stricter’ lockdown was announced from April 14 to 21. Then it was extended several times considering the situation.

Inter-district public transport services resume

Inter-district bus, train and launch services resumed at half of their capacity today, 59 days after suspension amid the worsening Covid-19 situation.

Twenty-eight pairs of intercity trains resumed operation, maintaining health guidelines after around two months, said Bangladesh Railway officials.

Train services were suspended on April 5 as part of the government’s restrictions on people’s movement to stem the coronavirus transmission.

Inter-district buses started running from Sunday midnight, keeping up to 50 percent of their seats empty as per the government directives.

Read: Covid-19: Bangladesh logs 28 more deaths, 1,354 new cases

The government earlier allowed public transport to resume operations in city corporation areas from May 6.

BIWTA Joint Director Gulzar said, “Launch services resumed from Sadarghat terminal around 6am today.”