The health authorities reported 1,163 new cases during the same period, taking the country’s caseload to 507,265 as the detection of new strains of Coronavirus in the United Kingdom and South Africa sparks worries.

Meanwhile, the death rate stood at 1.46 percent, the Directorate General of Health Services said.

So far, 448,803 patients – 88.87 percent – have recovered, including 2,113 in the past 24 hours.

Also read: Covid-19 in Bangladesh: Death toll reaches 7378

Bangladesh reported its first cases on March 8. The infection number reached the 5,00000-mark on December20.

The first death was reported on March 18 and the death toll exceeded 7,000 on December 12.

So far, 3,149,348 tests have been carried out, including 13,510 new ones. And the overall infection rate stood at 16.11 percent.

Bangladesh is seeing 2,978.54 infections, 2,635.26 recoveries, and 43.44 deaths per million.

Covid-19 vaccine for Bangladesh 

Bangladesh will get Covid-19 vaccines for some 45 million people by May-June next year, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said last week.

Also read: Christmas joy in the air amid Covid-19

“We’ll get 30 million doses for 15 million people at the end of January or early February next year. Sixty million more doses for 30 million people will arrive by May-June,” he told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

The Prime Minister has been warning of a second wave of Covid-19 infection and urging people to properly follow health guidelines.

She has ordered strict implementation of the 'No Mask No Service' policy, said the Cabinet Secretary.

Seven-day quarantine for UK returnees

Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Wednesday said UK returnees must undergo a compulsory seven-day quarantine as a new strain of coronavirus has been detected there.

“A seven-day quarantine is mandatory for those who are returning from the UK and then they will have to undergo Covid-19 test before they are released,” he said while inaugurating a PCR Lab and antigen-test at Ashkona camp.

Also read:Covid-19: Global cases near 78 million

Global situation

More than 79 million people have been infected with Covid-19. Over 1.7 million people have now died after contracting the virus since the first cases were reported in China in December last year.

The worldwide number of Covid-19 cases reached 79,406,417 and fatalities rose to 1,742,801 until early Friday, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Also read: Covid-19 vaccines: Bangladesh has 'limited choices'

The infection tally in the US topped 18.6 million, while the death toll climbed to 329,097. India confirmed 10,146,845 cases and 147,092 deaths until Friday.

Brazil’s case tally reached 7,423,945 and fatalities stood at 189,982.

The Latin American country had the world’s second-highest Covid-19 death toll – only behind the US – and the third-largest caseload – surpassed only by the US and India. 

Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh launches antigen tests in 10 districts