Bangladesh has reported a record-high number of daily Covid-19 infections after confirming its first cases on March 8 last year and 7,626 on April 7.
On Monday, 8,364 people were diagnosed with the disease from 35,059 sample tests in the preceding 24 hours, bringing the country's caseload since the beginning of the pandemic to 896,770.
New infections have been averaging 5,000 for the past few days – 75% of the peak. The highest daily average was reported on April 9.
The country, battling to get a second coronavirus wave under control, also reported more than 100 deaths for a second straight day. The new number, 104 deaths, took the country's toll to 14,276. Bangladesh reported 119 deaths on Sunday, its highest-ever daily fatality from the pandemic.
Also, the country's positivity rate reached its peak at 23.86%, which was recorded at 23.57% on April 8.
Meanwhile, the fatality rate almost remained unchanged at 1.59% from Sunday's 1.60% and the recovery rate dropped to 90.06%, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Khulna division reported the highest 35 deaths, Dhaka 27, Chattogram 19, Rangpur nine, Rajshahi seven, Mymensingh five and Barishal two deaths.
New restrictions
Following the surge in new cases, the government has decided to enforce a seven-day toughest nationwide lockdown from July 1 engaging the Armed Forces, BGB and Battalion Police in a bid to check the coronavirus transmission in the country.
Also read:Covid-19: Bangladesh reports record 119 daily deaths
"There'll be no pass for movement this time….no one can go outside as they'll have to stay indoors," Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said Monday. "We're moving on with a very tough stance to execute the lockdown from 6am on July 1 to 12 am on July 7."
Only those who are engaged in emergency services are allowed to move during the restrictions, he added.
In mid-April, restrictions on activities and movement were imposed across the country as cases and fatalities rose to their highest levels since the start of the pandemic. The positivity rate fell in May but started creeping up again this month, sparking harsher restrictions.
Indo-Bangla border closed for another 14 days
Health officials across the world have been alarmed by the rapid spread of the highly contagious coronavirus Delta variant. The variant, first identified in neighbouring India, has reached at least 85 countries, according to the World Health Organization.
Amid the worsening Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh, the border closure with India has been extended for another 14 days till July 14.
"All other (previous) conditions remain the same," Mashfee Binte Shams, secretary (East) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said.
Also read: Alarming Covid surge in Khulna division; death toll crosses 1,000
Earlier, the government extended the border closure with India several times, and it was extended till June 30 before today's latest extension.
As per the previous decision, general movements of humans between Bangladesh and India will temporarily stay suspended through land ports.