Notwithstanding a drop in the number of fresh cases, the global Covid-19 tally surpassed 167 million on Tuesday. According to Johns Hopkins University, the total caseload and fatalities currently stand at 167,112,793 and 3,469,530. So far, 1,678,350,114 doses of vaccine have been administered across the world, the university has said. The US has been counting the highest number of Covid-19 cases and deaths since its outbreak. To date, the US has logged 33,141,158 cases and 590,516 deaths, as per the university data. Read: India COVID-19 tally rises to 26,530,132, daily deaths fall below 4,000 India crossed another grim milestone on Monday of more than 300,000 people lost to the coronavirus as a devastating surge of new infections that exploded with fury has shown signs of easing, reports AP. The country has registered 26,752,447 cases till Tuesday morning with 303,720 fatalities, according to the Indian Health Ministry. Brazil on Monday reported 790 more deaths from Covid-19 in 24 hours, raising the national count to 449,858, the Ministry of Health said. A total of 37,498 more infections were detected during the period, taking the nationwide tally to 16,120,756, the Ministry said. Brazil has the world's second-highest Covid-19 death toll, after the United States, and the third-largest caseload, following the United States and India. Situation in Bangladesh  Bangladesh on Monday recorded 25 more coronavirus-related deaths in 24 hours, raising the fatality figures to 12,401. The infection rate declined to 8.15 percent on Monday from Sunday’s 8.90 percent while the mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.57 percent, said a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Besides, 1,441 people were found infected with Covid-19 after testing 17,683 samples. With the fresh cases, the country’s coronavirus caseload reached 790,521, said the handout. Read:Covid-19: Bangladesh sees 25 more deaths, 1,441 new cases Bangladesh has so far tested 5,838,295 samples. The country reported its first coronavirus cases on March 8 last year and the first death on March 18, 2020. Lockdown extended The government has extended the ongoing lockdown by another week till May 30, but is allowing public buses to operate at half of their seating capacity. The Cabinet Division issued a circular in this regard on Sunday. Everyone will have to maintain health protocols like wearing masks, said the circular. Besides, hotels and restaurants will be allowed to keep open with half of their capacities. The authorities concerned have been asked to take necessary steps in this regard. In the wake of a rise in coronavirus cases post the second week of March, the government imposed a "loose" nationwide lockdown for one week from April 5. Later, a complete lockdown was announced from April 14 to 21. Inter-district public transport services resume Inter-district bus, train and launch services have resumed at half of their seating capacity, some 59 days after the suspension of public transport facilities amid the worsening Covid-19 situation. Twenty-eight pairs of intercity trains have resumed operations, maintaining health guidelines after around two months, according to Bangladesh Railway officials. Read:Inter-district public transport services finally back; passengers happy Train services were suspended on April 5 as part of the government’s restrictions on people’s movement to stem the coronavirus transmission. Inter-district buses started running from Sunday midnight, keeping up to 50 percent of their seats empty as per the government directives. The government earlier allowed buses to resume operations in city corporation areas from May 6. BIWTA Joint Director Gulzar said, “Launch services resumed from Sadarghat terminal around 6am."  

The government has issued a notification extending the ongoing lockdown until May 16 with six fresh directives alongside the existing ones to contain the spread of Covid-19. According to the notification issued by the Cabinet Division, the officials of all government, semi-government autonomous and private organisations, banks and financial institutions have been asked to remain at their respective workstations during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr holidays. Also Read: Lockdown to continue until May 16, intra-district public transport services from May 6 Shops and shopping malls will remain open from 10 am to 8 pm maintaining health guidelines. If any kind of deviation and violation are seen, the shopping malls and shops will be closed instantly, says the notification. Inter-district transport services will remain closed while only intra-district transport services will operate ensuring health guidelines from Thursday. However, launch and train services will remain off. The notification says hundred percent use of masks should be ensured and legal steps can be taken through mobile courts, if needed. All social, political and religious programmes that create public gatherings will not be allowed to be arranged during this period. Also Read: Extended lockdown extends daily bottlenecks for commuters The Ministry of Information, city corporations/municipalities concerned will make publicity using loudhailers on using masks, maintaining health guidelines and social distance in district headquarters and municipality areas to curb the spread of Covid-19. Earlier, on May 3, the government decided to extend the ongoing lockdown up to May 16. The decision was taken at the weekly cabinet meeting held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. As coronavirus cases keep growing at an alarming rate since mid-March, the government imposed a ‘loose’ nationwide lockdown for one week from April 5 as part of its move to contain its spread. Also Read: Police seize four buses for violating lockdown norms in Jashore Later, a ‘stricter’ lockdown was declared from April 14 to 21. On April 28, the government again extended the lockdown until May 5 as the country is struggling to contain the Covid-19 transmission. On April 23, the Cabinet Division issued a notice allowing shops and shopping malls to operate from April 25 (10am-5pm) on the condition that they would maintain proper safety protocols.    

Police have seized four passenger buses in Jashore district for allegedly violating lockdown norms. Acting on a tip-off, a police team intercepted the four buses -- three near Manirampur police station and one from the New Market area in Shyamnagar upazila -- on Tuesday night. Upon checking, the police team found that several passengers were sitting together and many of them were not wearing masks or adhering to other Covid safety protocols. Subsequently, the four buses were seized, said Mahbub Kabir, traffic inspector of Jashore. Of the four buses, two buses belonged to ‘Green Bangla Paribahan’. All the buses were on their way to Dhaka. Also Read: Govt mulls resuming public transport services And some 80-90 passengers had boarded the buses, and most were not adhering to Covid safety protocols, police said. However, the drivers and helpers of the buses have not been arrested, police said. Public transport services were suspended in Bangladesh on April 5, with the government announcing a countrywide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus. Also Read: Inter-city bus services resume on day 3 of lockdown On April 30, the transport owners' association urged the government to immediately resume bus services in the country. The association also demanded food assistance for the unemployed transport workers. On May 3, the government decided to allow the intra-district public transport services with effect from May 6 after extending the ongoing lockdown till May 16. The decision was taken at the weekly cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Transport services will remain suspended in Khulna for 24 hours from Friday evening.