More than 130.6 million people have been infected with Covid-19 with 2.8 million fatalities on Sunday, according to data compiled by johns Hopkins University (JHU).

The total case count reached 130,659, 436 while the death tally mounted to 2, 845,012 as of Sunday morning, showed the university data.

The US has recorded 30,671,074 cases and the country’s death toll reached  554,789.

The US has surpassed the grim Covid milestone of 30 million cases on March 25.

Besides, deaths from COVID-19 in Brazil surpassed 330,000 on Saturday after 1,987 new fatalities registered, bringing the country's death toll to 330,193, the Ministry of Health reported.

Besides, 43,515 new cases were registered, bringing the national count to 12,953,597.

Brazil is currently the global epicenter of COVID-19, ranking second in terms of deaths and cases worldwide, after the United States.

India records highest spike in daily Covid-19 cases with 89,129 new cases, bringing the national tally to 12,392,260.

Besides, 714 deaths were registered, taking the death toll to 164,110.Both the number of new cases and deaths are the highest this year so far.

Also read: Global Covid cases top 130 million

Situation in Bangladesh

Amid an alarming surge in Covid-19 cases, Bangladesh recorded 5,683 fresh cases and 58 deaths in the last 24 hours until Saturday.

Bangladesh has so far recorded 630,277 coronavirus cases, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

During the 24-hour period until Saturday morning, 2,364 patients recovered, taking the number of recoveries to 549,775.

Bangladesh reported its first cases on March 8 last year and confirmed the first death from the virus 10 days later.

Meanwhile, the fatalities rose to 9,213 with the new deaths. The mortality rate fell to 1.46 on Saturday from Friday’s 1.47 percent.

Also read: Global Covid caseload tops 129 million

Govt set to impose ‘lockdown’

On Saturday, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said the government is set to announce a seven-day lockdown from Monday to stem the spread of coronavirus.

Meanwhile, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain said the decision for a countrywide lockdown for seven days would come within “two to three days”.

In a video message, he said the institutions providing emergency services would be open during the lockdown.

“Industries and factories will remain open too,” he said. “Workers will have to follow health guidelines and work in shifts (during that period).”

Also read: Global Covid cases top 128 million

Govt strengthens protective steps

The daily surge prompted the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to issue an 18-point directive on March 29 to prevent the virus’ transmission.

On the same day, the Health Ministry proposed strict measures like partial lockdowns for some places with higher Covid-19 transmission rates.

Vaccination drive

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

Bangladesh inked an agreement with Serum in December last year for 30 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. Serum is supposed to supply the doses between January and June this year – 5 million each month.