Covid-19 in Bangladesh claimed 25 more lives, the lowest in four months, and infected 818 in 24 hours till Saturday morning. The number of single-day Covid cases was recorded below 1,000 in May 17 last, logging 698 cases.  The new cases were detected after testing 17,818 samples slightly raising the daily case positivity rate to 4.59 percent from Friday’s 4.54 percent,  according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Read: Five girl students contract Covid in Thakurgaon school Bangladesh saw its highest-ever 16,230 daily Covid cases on July 28. The new numbers took the country’s total fatalities to 27,393 while the caseload mounted to 1,550,371. Meanwhile, the fatality rate increased slightly to 1.77 percent from yesterday’s 1.76 percent. On Thursday, the country recorded the lowest Covid deaths of 24 since May 15 when the country saw 22 single-day deaths. Besides, the recovery rate increased slightly to 97.41 per cent on Friday with the recovery of 965 patients during the 24-hour period. So far, 1,510,167 people have recovered from the deadly virus infections, the DGHS added. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the daily case positivity rate remaining at 5 percent or below for 14 days is considered safe for mass unlocking. Read: Global Covid cases top 231 million  However, Bangladesh eased its lockdown restrictions on August 11, even though public health experts had warned of Delta variant spread.

Bangladesh logged 48 more Covid-19 deaths and 1,327 cases in 24 hours till Saturday morning. The country reported 38 Covid-related deaths and 2,325 cases on Friday, indicating a significant drop in daily cases but a slight increase in fatalities, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The daily case positivity rate dropped further to 7.03 % from 8.65 % on Friday and 8.76 % on Thursday, suggesting that the pandemic keeps easing in Bangladesh. The fresh numbers pushed the country’s total fatalities to 26,880 while the cases reached 15,28,582 the DGHS said. Read: Covid-19: 38 more die in Bangladesh with positivity rate falling to 8.65 % The new cases were detected after testing 18,869 samples during the 24-hour period. Besides, the recovery rate rose to 96.51 per cent while the case fatality remained unchanged at 1.76 per cent compared to the corresponding period.

Bangladesh logged 58 more Covid-19 deaths and 2,588 cases in 24 hours till Thursday morning, showing a further decline in single-day fatalities and cases. The country reported 52 Covid-related deaths and 2,497 cases on Wednesday, indicating a slight increase in both cases and fatalities. But the daily case positivity rate dropped further to 8.76 % from Wednesday’s 9.07%, suggesting that the pandemic may be easing in Bangladesh. Read: Delta surge in Bangladesh easing as fatalities, cases continue to fall The fresh numbers pushed the country’s total fatalities to 26,798 while the cases reached 15,24,890, according to a DGHS handout. The new cases were detected after testing 29,541 samples during the 24-hour period. Around 27,528 samples  were tested on the previous day. Besides, the recovery rate rose to 96.28 %, while the case fatality remained unchanged at 1.76 per cent compared to the corresponding period. Read: Covid-19: 22 more lives lost, lowest daily deaths in 7 weeks The country last saw 54 Coronavirus-related deaths on June 18 and the upswing in the fatalities reached its peak on August 5 and 10 when 264 deaths were recorded. However, the situation was much more catastrophic than June in the latter part of August as the country experienced a surge of Covid-related caseloads and deaths during that time. Between May and June this year, there was a 273% rise in monthly caseloads and 162% in fatalities. In July, there was a 150% increase in caseloads and a 170% rise in deaths compared to the previous month, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

No patient diagnosed with COVID-19 died in Barishal in the 24 hours till Monday morning - a first in over two months. However, two people died with Covid symptoms during this time. Read: Barishal div sees 23 Covid deaths in single day The last time the single day death toll reported by the authorities was nil was back on June 26. Besides, 113 people were tested positive during this time while 832 recovered from the virus. Basudev Kumar Das, Divisional Director of the Department of Health provided the information to UNB. Read: Covid: Barishal division logs 20 more deaths - With the fresh numbers, the total number of cases in the division reached 43,698 while the recoveries stood at 39,190. Meanwhile the total deaths remain at 654.

BNP on Saturday alleged that the government has kept educational institutions shut for a long time only to prevent a possible movement instead of protecting students from Covid-19. Speaking at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office on the outcome of Friday’s virtual meeting of their party’s standing committee, he called upon the government to resume academic activities in the all educational institutions immediately maintaining health safety rules. Read: PM's remark on Zia's grave 'absurd': BNP He also demanded the government bring the students up to the age of 18 under the Covid vaccine coverage. About Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader’s comment that evil forces are taking preparations to create chaos after the reopening of universities, Fakhrul said, “His (Quader’s) remark has exposed that the educational institutions have been kept closed to avoid a movement, not to protect the health of students.” Referring to a recent report published by Unicef, he said Bangladesh ranks second in the world in terms of the closure of educational institutions at all levels due to Covid -19. “Over four crores of students from pre-primary to higher-education levels have been affected as a result of prolonged closure.” The BNP leader alleged that the government has raised a question about Ziaur Rahman’s grave at Chandrima Udyan to divert people’s attention to a different direction from its failures and misdeeds. Read: BNP says AL has no Liberation War spirit He said Zia was buried at Chandrima Udyan following a janaza joined by lakhs of people. “The then Army Chief Ershad (HM Ershad) himself carried his (Zia’s) body.” Fakhrul said Awami League has been talking about such unnecessary issues as it has got politically 'bankrupt'.  “Why don't they come to the main points? They don't  talk about holding a credible election strengthening the democratic institutions and restoring the rights of people, including the right to vote,” he observed. The BNP leader urged the government to inform people about what it has done to tackle Covid, protect people’s lives and livelihoods and help the day- labourers. He said people are getting poorer, but those who belong to Awami League are getting richer and they are siphoning off money abroad. “Social instability and anti-social activities have been growing as no institutions are working properly in the country. It’s going to be a failed state.” On Thursday, the Prime minister said, “BNP engaged in fights at Chandrima Udyan. Doesn't the BNP know that there's no grave or body of Zia, or Zia is not there? They know it very well! If so, why do they stage the drama? Khaleda Zia is also aware of it.” While addressing a programme virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban, Sheikh Hasina also said whether Khaleda Zia or Tarique Zia could claim that they saw Zia’s body in the box (which was brought from Chattogram) as a bullet-hit body can easily be recognised. “No one saw it as there was no body (of Zia) in the box,” she said.  Reacting to her remarks, Fakhrul said no person who has integrity and good taste can make such comments. “Her remarks are indecent, disgusting, and nothing but lies.” He said the Prime Minister also hurt the religious sentiment of Muslims by raising a question about late Zia’s body and grave. “People didn’t take it easily as Ziaur Rahman is in their hearts.”

The single-day Covid  death toll in Bangladesh fell below 100 for the first time in more than two months with 80 more people perishing in the last 24 hours till Saturday morning. During the same period 3,436 people tested positive for the deadly virus, according to Directorate General of Health Services. The country reported 77 Covid fatalities on June 26 and the highest 264  on August 5 and 10. The highest number of infections was logged at 16,230 infections on July 28. Read:  Covid cases, fatalities continue to fall in Bangladesh Between May and June this year, there was a 273 per cent rise in monthly caseloads and 162 per cent in fatalities. In July there was a 150 per cent increase in caseloads and a 170 per cent rise in deaths compared to the previous month, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since the start of the Covid pandemic in March last year, Bangladesh has recorded 14,89,589  infections and 25,926 deaths, according to the DGHS. In 24 hours till Saturday morning, the Covid positivity rate stood at  13.67 per cent, a slight increase from Friday’s 12.78 per cent, while the WHO recommends bringing it down to  5 per cent or below, Meanwhile, the recovery rate rose to 94.61 per cent, and the case fatality remained static at 1.74% during the time. Read:. Covid deaths in Chuadanga fall to nil Dhaka division reported the highest 34 deaths, Chattogram 21, Khulna nine , Sylhet six, Barishal four, Rangpur three,  Mymensingh two  and Rajshahi  one .   Of them, 41 were men while 39 women.

Bangladesh added 145 fatalities, lowest in 48 days, to its national tally Friday as Covid deaths continue to fall for the third straight day and cases remain below the 8,000 mark since August 14. The country reported 134 Covid deaths on July 3, the highest fatality number – 264 – on August 5 and 10, and 16,230 infections on July 28. Bangladesh is now reporting 7,191 new cases on average each day – 50% of the peak. The highest daily average was reported on August 3. Read: Covid death toll in Bangladesh crosses 20,000 with 237 new deaths It recorded 5,993 new cases Friday after testing 34,892 samples, down from 8,465 logged a week earlier on August 13. The country has been experiencing a surge of Covid-related caseloads and deaths since June 2021.  Between May and June this year, there was a 273% rise in monthly caseloads and 162% in fatalities. In July there was a 150% increase in caseloads and a 170% rise in deaths compared to the previous month, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). There have been 14,53,203 infections and 25,023 coronavirus-related deaths here since the pandemic began, said the Directorate General of Health Services. In 24 hours till Friday morning, the percentage of coronavirus tests coming back positive stood at 17.18%, down from August 13's 20.83%, while the WHO recommends a 5% or below rate. However, the recovery rate rose to 92.74%, and the case fatality increased to 1.72% compared to the same period. Dhaka division reported the highest 57 deaths, Chattogram 43, Khulna 15; Mymensingh, Sylhet and Rangpur seven each, Rajshahi five and Barishal four. Read: Covid getting harsher in Bangladesh; kills 246 more Since the beginning of the vaccination programme, the government has administered at least 22,413,079 doses of Covid vaccines – enough to have vaccinated around 6.7% of the country's population, assuming every person needs two doses. Getting vaccinated prevents severe illness, hospitalisations, and death; and with the Delta variant; this is more urgent than ever, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

With millions of people still waiting to receive their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, Bangladesh reported 215 Covid-19-related deaths as health authorities came up with their 24-hour report on Thursday.   On August 5, the country reported 264 deaths shattering its previous single-day record of 258 Covid-related deaths on July 27 and it was repeated on August 10 when the country logged 268 deaths.   Besides, 10,126 more people came out Covid positive during the period after testing 45,078samples, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).   The fresh numbers pushed Bangladesh’s total fatalities to 23,613 and the total cases to 1,396,858. The case positivity rate during the 24-hour period declined further to 22. 46 % from Wednesday’s 23.45 % and Tuesday’s 23.58 %, while the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a 5% or below rate. Read: Covid-19 in Bangladesh: Death toll nears 200 again as 195 more die The recovery rate, however, rose slightly to 90.35 %, with the recovery of 13,990 people during the period, said the DGHS. But the case fatality rate remained static at 1.69 % during the period, according to the DGHS report. Of the deceased, 65 died in Dhaka division, 54 in Chattogram, 28 in Khulna, 22 in Sylhet, 16 in Rangpur, 12 in Barishal, 10 in Mymensingh, and eight died in Rajshahi divisions.   The number of female fatalities were more than that of male during the period, a rare phenomenon in the country. Among the deceased, 107 were men and 108 were women. As per their age breakup, two were between 0-10 years old, one was within 11-20, nine were between 21-30, 19 between 31-40, 19 between 41-50, 56 between 51-60, 63 between 61-70, 36 within 71-80, nine between 81-90 and one was above 100 years old. Read: Bangladesh still in life-and-death race with Covid; 226 more die On a positive note, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said on Thursday Bangladesh is going to take the deliveries of over 1 crore more Covid-19 vaccine doses by this month which is expected to give a further boost to its inoculation drive. “Around 54 lakh doses will arrive this week while another 50 lakh later this month," the minister said while addressing an event arranged by Bangladesh Society of Medicine at a city hotel on Thursday. He said around 1.75 crore people have so far received Covid-19 vaccine shots and crore more have got registered to do so. “We need 26-27 crore doses of Covid vaccine. All will get vaccine jabs in phases.”

Nine more Covid-related deaths were reported at Kushtia General Hospital in the past 24 hours, officials said on Tuesday morning. Of the deceased, eight had tested positive for Covid while remaining one showed symptoms of the virus, said statistics officer of Kushtia General Hospital, Md Mejbaul Alam. Read: Covid-19: 15 more die in Kushtia Besides, 166 people have tested positive for Covid in the district in the past 24 hours. "Some 572 samples were tested during the period," he said. The positivity rate rose to 29.02% from Monday’s 27.59%, while the WHO recommends a positivity rate of below 5% . A total of 199 people with Covid symptoms are currently undergoing treatment at the leading medical facility, officials said. Read: Covid claims lives of 12 people in Kushtia in 24 hrs So far, 16,115 people have been infected with the virus in the district, while the death toll reached 640. On the other hand, 12,424 people have recovered from Covid to date.

The dengue situation in Bangladesh might worsen further in the coming days devastating the country’s fragile healthcare system already battered by the Covid-19 pandemic, said experts. Bangladesh started seeing an uptrend in dengue cases from June with the advent of monsoon. Since August 1, the country has been seeing over 200 dengue cases every day. Read: Risk of dengue outbreak rises amid lockdown DGHS spokesperson Prof Nazmul Islam told UNB that there is a possibility that the number of dengue cases will rise further in August due to suitable breeding conditions. “Aedes mosquito breeding increases in stagnant water due to heavy rains in August,” he said. Some 2,286 dengue cases were reported in the month of July alone, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The outbreak of dengue fever with over 100 dengue patients reported daily for more than a week has sparked new worries as the country’s healthcare system is facing an unprecedented situation with rising Covid patients and limited capacities. Just like the Covid-19 pandemic, Dhaka is the worst hit by the dengue outbreak as almost all the cases were recorded in the capital, a home to about 17 million people. Of the new dengue cases reported on Saturday, 194 were reported in Dhaka while only two from outside the capital, the DGHS said.   According to the (DGHS), 777 patients are currently receiving treatment at different hospitals across the country. The majority of the dengue patients are from Dhaka as only 30 of them were being treated in hospitals outside the capital.   Some 2,658 patients have been admitted to different hospitals with dengue since January and 1,877 of them have been released after they recovered. Read: Dengue spike: 123 more patients admitted to hospital in 24 hrs Doctors are advising the patients who have been suffering from fever to undergo both Covid and dengue tests, creating financial burden and sufferings for many. According to official statistics, 101,354 dengue cases and 179 deaths were recorded in Bangladesh in 2019, the worst the country has ever experienced. About 50,974 people were infected with dengue in August 2019 though only 50,166 dengue cases were recorded in the previous 18 years from 2000 to 2018. If the similar scenario repeats, the health system, which is already on the brink, might completely collapse and create a catastrophic situation in the country in addition to the Covid-19 pandemic, experts warned.  Prime Minister's personal physician Prof Dr ABM Abdullah told UNB that dengue cases may increase further in the future.  “The breeding season of Aedes mosquitoes begins in May and continues under winter. So, there must be measures to control the outbreak before the Dengue season begins,” he said, adding that mosquito control is not the sole responsibility of the two city corporations. He urged other government agencies, including Wasa and PWD, to put their best foot forward as soon as possible over the matter. “Destroying Aedes breeding grounds isn’t a tough task. If everyone, including the citizens, regularly cleanse stagnant water from residential premises and the service providers do their duty, we don't need to worry about an outbreak,” Abdullah added.    Read: Dengue vs. COVID-19: Symptoms, when & where to test, ways of prevention Besides, Prof Nazmul of the DGHS said they are currently in the middle of conducting a 10-day survey to have a clear idea about the overall dengue situation in the country.   The DGHS will take further actions to control dengue outbreak after understanding the ground situation upon completion of the survey, he said. He added that citizens can undergo free dengue tests at government hospitals and there are adequate kits available for this purpose.  Nazmul recommended using mosquito nets even for sleeping in the morning as it is when aedes mosquitoes mainly bite.   “If someone has a fever, they should be tested immediately for dengue and corona. And in the case of taking treatment, the medicine must be taken as per the advice of a registered doctor. If necessary, take treatment by contacting the hot line or health window of the health department,” Prof Nazmul added.   Contacted, Local Government Minister Tajul Islam said many city dwellers are still reluctant about destroying the Aedes breeding sources despite conducting mobile courts regularly. Tajul Islam warned of stringent punitive action if Aedes larva is found on residential premises. “Anti-mosquito drives and cleansing activities of the two city corporations have already been strengthened in Covid hotspots,” he added. Besides, the mosquito eradication teams would immediately reach out if residents need help in cleaning stagnant water or other breeding gounds, he added. DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam told UNB that a 10-day mosquito eradication campaign was carried out simultaneously in 54 wards of Dhaka North from July 26.  He said citizens can reach out to them anytime through ‘Shobar Dhaka’ (Everyone’s Dhaka) mobile app, emergency number 333 and DNC hotlines 09602222333 and 09602222334. Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh urged the city dwellers to inform municipality authorities about Aedes larvae so that they can take necessary steps to clean that. “We cannot reach the rooftops of your (city dwellers) buildings. So, if you (residents) watch stagnant water, either clean it by yourselves or inform us and we will clean it.” He went on saying, “Inform us if you know the breeding sources of Aedes mosquitoes in your surroundings as it is impossible for us to locate and destroy them all by going home to home.”  Dengue fever was first reported in Bangladesh in 2000, claiming 93 lives that year. In the years that followed, the country learned to deal with the disease much better.   The fatalities had almost fallen to zero at one stage, before surging again in 2018, leading to the severe outbreak the following year. Global burden of dengue The incidence of dengue has grown dramatically around the world in recent decades. A vast majority of cases are asymptomatic or mild and self-managed, and hence the actual numbers of dengue cases are under-reported, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).   The number of dengue cases reported to WHO increased over 8 folds over the last two decades, from 505,430 cases in 2000, to over 2.4 million in 2010, and 4.2 million in 2019. The reported deaths between the year 2000 and 2015 increased from 960 to 4032.    Read: Australian scientists make breakthrough on preventing spread . of dengue fever Before 1970, only nine countries had experienced a severe dengue epidemic. The disease is now pandemic in more than 100 countries in the WHO regions of Africa, America, the Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia and the Western Pacific.   The America, South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions are the most seriously affected, with Asia representing - 70% of the global burden of disease.   The largest number of dengue cases ever reported globally was in 2019. All the regions were affected, and dengue transmission was recorded in Afghanistan for the first time.