The total case count and fatalities now stand at 116,042,835 and 2,579,776, respectively, as per the latest data released by Johns Hopkins University (JHU).

The US has so far registered 28, 889,907 cases and 522,756 deaths from the virus infection, according to the figures.

In fact, the first known deaths from the virus in the US were reported in early February 2020, both of them in Santa Clara County, California. It took four months to reach the first 100,000 deaths.

The death toll hit 200,000 in September and 300,000 in December. Then it took just over a month to go from 300,000 to 400,000 and another two months to jump to 500,000.

Brazil registered more than 1,600 Covid-19 deaths for the fourth day in a row Friday. In the past 24 hours, as many as 1,800 people have died from the virus infection and 75,495 contracted Covid in the South American country, as per the varsity data.

Brazil has so far reported 10,869,227 Covid cases and 262,770 deaths, according to the data.

Brazil ranks second worldwide after the United States in terms of deaths from Covid and third in terms of confirmed cases, after the United States and India.

India has so far reported 11,173,761 Covid cases and 157,548 fatalities, according to official figures.

Also read: WHO-backed policy brief calls for action to address ‘long COVID’

Situation in Bangladesh

Bangladesh has recorded four more Covid-related deaths and 635 new cases in the past 24 hours till Friday morning, registering a rise in the daily infection rate.

Some 676 people have recovered from the virus infections during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Also read: Covid-19 in Bangladesh: Daily infection rate rises, 8 more die

With the latest figures, Covid-19 fatalities have now climbed to 8,441 and infections to 549,184 in the country.

The daily infection rate stood at 4.63 percent on Friday, which was 3.87 percent on Thursday. The overall infection rate slightly fell to 13.33 percent, which was 13.36 percent on Wednesday.

But the mortality rate has remained at 1.54 percent over the past few days, the DGHS said in a handout.

So far, 501,144 patients (91.25 percent) have recovered from Covid-19.

Authorities have so far tested 4,119,031 samples, including 13,710 in the past 24 hours.

Bangladesh reported its first cases on March 8 and the first death on March 18.

Also read: 64% Bangladeshi say yes to Corona vaccine

Vaccination drive in Bangladesh

Bangladesh launched its nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive on February 7.

By Wednesday, 3,460,159 people received the first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. The second dose has to be taken between 8 and 12 weeks of the first one.

The government is providing the vaccine for free. It signed an agreement with India's Serum Institute for acquiring 30 million doses of the vaccine.

The institute will provide five million doses every month between January and June.

People above 40 can register for getting the jab at www.surokkha.gov.bd as the on-spot registration system has been revoked.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque has already said that the age limit for getting the Covid vaccine will be revised once more doses are available in the country.