Covid-19 has so far infected over 166.4 million people across the world, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University (JHU). As per the data, the total caseload around the globe reached 166, 438,026 while the death toll from the virus stood at 3,449,399 as of Sunday morning. Some 1,632, 929,763 doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered during the mass inoculation drive till date. The US, which remains the world’s worst hit country, has registered 33,103,118 cases while the death toll from the virus reached 589,670 until Sunday morning. New coronavirus cases across the United States have tumbled to rates not seen in more than 11 months, sparking optimism that vaccination campaigns are stemming both severe Covid-19 cases and the spread of the virus, reports AP. As cases, hospitalisations and deaths steadily dropped this week, pre-pandemic life in America has largely resumed. India, which has been experiencing the staggering situation of Covid-19 cases for the last few months, has recorded 26,289,290 cases with 295,515 fatalities. Brazil reported on Saturday 1,899 more deaths from Covid-19, raising the national count to 448,208, the Ministry of Health said. Also read: US civil rights leader urges Biden To give 60 million Covid-19 vaccine doses to India A total of 76,490 more infections were detected, raising the nationwide tally to 16,047,439, the ministry said. Situation in Bangladesh Bangladesh logged 38 more coronavirus-related deaths in the last 24 hours till Saturday morning, taking the country's fatalities to 12,348. The daily infection rate rose to 8.41% from Friday's 7.22%, said the Directorate General of Health Services. Meanwhile, 1,028 new cases were reported after testing 12,230 samples. Bangladesh has so far reported 787,726 coronavirus cases. Also read: India to begin clinical trials for Covd-19 vaccine in children Vaccination drive Bangladesh launched its vaccination drive on February 7 with Oxford-AstraZeneca doses purchased from India's Serum Institute. The administration of the first dose has remained suspended since April 26. Also, the country, the prime recipient of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines, has suspended the registration for Covid-19 jabs due to vaccine shortage amid a delay in the timely arrival of shipments from India. In the past 24 hours, no one received the first dose of the vaccine while 41,467 have received the second dose, said the health directorate. Vaccine supply The government signed an agreement with Serum for 30 million doses. But a record number of cases in India has made the delivery of the doses uncertain. Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen Friday reached out to global media to let the world know that Bangladesh is desperately looking for vaccines and ready to accept any shipment from any country. "A large number of people in Bangladesh, who took the first dose of Oxford-AstraZeneca, could not get the second dose because we have run out of supplies," the minister said. In response to Bangladesh’s request, China on Friday said it will send the second batch of 600,000 doses of its Covid-19 vaccine as a gift. The foreign minister on Thursday said the government was making its best efforts to get vaccines from multiple countries – the US, China, Canada, Russia and the UK – apart from its continuous request to India to meet Bangladesh's urgent needs. Bangladesh received 500,000 doses of China's Sinopharm vaccine as a gift on May 12. The administering of the shots will begin by May 25-26, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque. Also, the country would receive a minimum of 106,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine under the COVAX scheme, co-led by Gavi, Maleque said on May 18. Besides, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs Wednesday approved a proposal of the Health Services Division to import the Sinofarm Covid-19 vaccine.

India's pharma giant Serum Institute has said that it will launch another vaccine for Covid-19 by June this year -- this time, in collaboration with US-based Novavax. Bangladesh is using Serum's Covishield vaccine, developed in partnership with Oxford University and British-Swedish pharma firm AstraZeneca, for inoculating its citizens.

Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader, MP on Tuesday urged the government to take immediate steps for procuring coronavirus vaccines from alternative sources if there is any problem to collect it from India in time.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque on Sunday said the Coronavirus vaccine will reach the country in the middle of February and the government is prepared for vaccine distribution among people.

The government on Sunday signed an agreement with Serum Institute of India Pvt Limited for procuring Covid-19 vaccine.