Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday he has tested positive for COVID-19 but is “feeling fine” and will continue to work remotely from home. Trudeau said two of his children have COVID-19 and a test Monday revealed he has been infected as well. The prime minister, who has received two vaccine shots and a booster shot, used a televised virtual news conference to denounce anti-vaccine protesters who filled Canada’s capital to complain about COVID restrictions. Also read: Thousands in Ottawa protest COVID mandates, many rebuked “Canadians were shocked and quite frankly disgusted by the behavior displayed by some people in our nation’s capital,” Trudeau said. “I want to be clear. We are not intimated by those who hurl insults and abuse at small businesses and steal from the homeless. We won’t give in those who fly racist flags. We won’t cave to those who engage in vandalism or dishonor the memory of our veterans.” Some demonstrators travelled in truck convoys and parked on the streets around Parliament Hill, blocking traffic — and a smaller but significant number remained on Monday. Many Canadians were outraged by images over the weekend of some protesters urinating on the National War Memorial and dancing on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, while a number carried signs and flags with swastikas. Many refused to wear masks in hotels, malls and grocery stores and one homeless shelter reported protesters had demanded it feed them. Canada has one of the world’s highest rates of vaccination against the coronavirus — shots that are primarily designed to keep those who become infected from falling seriously ill. Protest organizers have called for the elimination of all COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates and for the removal of Trudeau, though he is responsible for very few of the restrictions, most of which were put in place by provincial governments. Also read: FM Momen, wife test Covid positive The Ottawa police department has said it is investigating possible criminal charges over some actions during the protests. “To those responsible for this behavior, it needs to stop. To anyone who joined the convoy but is rightly uncomfortable with the symbol of hatred and division on display, join with your fellow Canadians, be courageous and speak out. Do not stand for or with intolerance and hate,” Trudeau said. Some were protesting a rule that took effect Jan. 15 requiring truckers entering Canada to be fully immunized against the coronavirus. The United States has imposed the same requirement on truckers entering that country so Canada removing it would make little difference. Some opposition Conservative lawmakers served coffee to the protesters and Conservative party leader Erin O’Toole met with some protesting truckers. The demonstration also attracted support from former U.S. President Donald Trump.

A man who returned from India to Bangladesh on Thursday tested positive for coronavirus, said officer-in-charge of Benapole check-post immigration, Raju Ahmed. The patient is Polash Chandra Das, 36, a resident of Narkelbaria village of Bagharpara Upazila in Jashore. He went to India last month for treatment. Also raed: BNP leader Harris Chy dies of Covid He returned to Bangladesh along the Benapole border on Thursday noon. It is not confirmed whether the patient was carrying the Omicron variant of coronavirus. It will be known after the test, said health official of Sharsha Upazila Dr Yusuf Ali. The patient is currently admitted at the isolation centre of Jashore General Hospital, said Raju Ahmed.Also read: Dhaka division logs highest 43.68% of Covid-linked deaths: DGHS

Covid positivity rate in Natore sadar and municipality remained static  at 62%  in the last 24 hours until Friday morning. The overall infection rate in the district stood at 53% during the period as 82 people came out Covid positive in 154 sample tests, according to health officials. Besides, in Singra upazila the infection rate stood at 16%. Meanwhile hospitals in the district are facing space constraints as the number of patients are increasing alarmingly. READ: Week-long lockdown in Natore & Singra from Wednesday  Assistant director of Natore Sadar Hospital Paritosh Kumar Ray said the hospital’s coronavirus ward with 31 beds has been extended to yellow zone to treat 39 patients. Meanwhile, on third day of lockdown in the district to stem the virus spread, local  administration is maintaining a strict position installing police check posts in the town’s 12 points to limit movements. Bangladesh on Thursday registered 36 more coronavirus-related deaths and 2,537 fresh cases in 24 hours, with the Covid situation worsening post the detection of the Delta variant in different parts of the country. Although district administrations have imposed restrictions in most of the frontier districts to bring the situation under control, the infection and death rates are on the rise.   READ: Probe body formed over sexual assault of college girl in Natore The latest death toll pushed up the fatalities to 12,949. The Covid-19 death toll crossed the 12,000-mark in Bangladesh on May 11. With the new cases, the total caseload rose to 8,17,819, said the Directorate General of Health Services.

Despite travel restrictions and locked borders, 3,350 Bangladeshis returned through Benapole land port since April 26. Seventeen of these India returnees have tested positive for Covid-19, said Benapole immigration officials. Utpal Roy, medical officer of Benapole immigration health department, said people returning from India are being sent to 14-day mandatory quarantine. Those who are already infected or getting infected later are being sent to the red zone of Jashore General Hospital’s Corona Unit, said the medical officer. Benapole port immigration sources said most of the returnees went to India for treatment and are returning with special permission from the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in Kolkata. Some of the returnees said Bangladeshis would not have gone to India for treatment if our health service was developed enough. Officer-in-Charge of Benapole immigration check post Ahsan Habib said everyday Bangladeshis are returning from India with NOC and Indians stuck in Bangladesh are following the same procedure. Bangladesh’s border with India has remained shut since April 26 as the number of cases soared in the neighbouring country. But the movement of cargoes has remained unaffected. Bangladeshi citizens currently travelling to India for treatment and having visas with validity for less than 15 days are allowed to enter Bangladesh through only Benapole, Akhaura and Burimari land ports after taking permission from Bangladesh Missions in New Delhi, Kolkata, and Agartala and with Covid-negative certificates.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said their party chairperson Khaleda Zia’s condition is completely stable with no symptom of Covid-19 though she has tested positive for the virus. “Our leader Khaleda Zia has undergone coronavirus test. Her samples were taken to icddr,b yesterday (Saturday). We came to know her report is positive for the virus,” said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. Also read: Khaleda's proper treatment getting harder: BNP In a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, he said she is now receiving treatment under her personal physicians, led by respiratory medicine expert Prof Dr FM Siddiqui. “She’s stable and fine. She has no visible Covid symptom, including high temperature,” the BNP leader said. He said her personal physicians will take steps for her further treatment, if necessary. Fakhrul said Khaleda urged the country’s people to pray for her speedy recovery. “Especially, I urge our party’s leaders and activists at every level to seek divine blessings for our leader’s quick recovery." Also read: Lockdown unproductive due to mismanagement: BNP He also urged the party leaders and activists to arrange doa mahfil for her in local mosques maintaining health safety rules. “Her health condition is completely stable and her treatment has already begun. We would like to assure people she’s fine and receiving treatment under her personal physicians who are famous in the country,” Fakhrul added. Asked whether Khaleda’s domestic help, Fatema, and others who stay in her Gulshan residence underwent the Covid test, he said he has no idea about it. “I only got information about our leader.” Earlier in the day, Health Ministry’s senior information officer Maidul Islam Prodhan said the BNP chief underwent Covid test on Saturday evening and the results came out to be positive. A source close to Khaleda’s one of the relatives who met her last week later tested positive for the Coronavirus. “That’s why Madam’s (Khaleda’s) family took initiatives for her Covid test, though she has no major symptom.” Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government freed Khaleda Zia from jail for six months through an executive order suspending her sentences on March 25 last year. She was released from the prison cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) the same day, and she has been staying at her Gulshan house since then. Also read: Coronavirus situation alarming, says BNP On August 27 last year, the government extended her release for six more months and it was extended again for six months on March 15 last. On February 8, 2018, Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Central Jail after a lower court sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. The High Court later doubled her jail term. Khaleda was found guilty in another corruption case the same year. Her party claims both the cases are politically motivated.

An unofficial one-day has been called off as an Ireland Wolves player tested positive for Covid-19 in Chattogram on Friday, said a source at Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

The global Covid caseload has now surged past 113 million, despite high rates of vaccination in several countries.