Bangladesh on Tuesday recorded over 5,000 new coronavirus cases for the second straight day, signalling a tough fight ahead for the country as people are still reluctant about following basic health guidelines. With 5,042 new cases in a 24-hour period until morning, the caseload rose to 605,937, according to a handout of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Meanwhile, the coronavirus fatalities climbed to 8,994 with 45 more deaths recorded until morning. Bangladesh reported its first coronavirus cases on March 8 last year and the first death on the 18th of that month. The DGHS said the infection rate jumped to 18.94 percent from 18.38 percent on Monday when Bangladesh recorded its highest-ever single day case count (5,181). During the 24-hour period, 2,162 coronavirus patients recovered, taking the total number of recovered patients to 540,180. The government has ramped up testing, intensified vaccination campaign and efforts to ensure that the people properly follow health guidelines and hygiene rules. So far, 4,643,645 samples have been tested – including 26,620 in the last 24 hours, the DGHS said. Dhaka sees highest Covid deaths The mortality rate slipped slightly to 1.48 percent on Tuesday. Among the deceased, 37 people died in Dhaka division, three in Chattogram, two in Rajshahi, two in Khulna and one in Sylhet. So far, 5,118 coronavirus patients died in Dhaka division, 1,631 in Chattogram, 501 in Rajshahi, 579 in Khulna, 273 in Barishal, 318 in Sylhet, 373 in Rangpur and 201 in Mymensingh.

In the wake of the fresh surge in the Covid-19 infections, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Monday issued an 18-point directive for the next two weeks in an effort to restrict the spread of the coronavirus in Bangladesh. The directives have taken immediate effect throughout the country and those will remain in force for two weeks until further order, according to a notification signed by Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus.  All the ministries, divisions and agencies concerned have been asked to take necessary measures to implement the directives. Also read: 14-day institutional quarantine mandatory for travellers from European countries: CAAB  The directives are related to restriction on public gatherings, using face-masks, ensuring the 14-day quarantine rule, and maintaining the Covid-19 health protocols.  “In the current situation of the Coronavirus infection, the government has taken the following decisions (directives),” said the notification.  The 18 directives are: 1) All types of public gathering (social, political, religious and others) will have to kept limited . All types of public gathering are prohibited in areas with highly-infection rate. Public gatherings on the occasion of any social event, including wedding and birthday ones  will have to be discouraged. Also read: UN-Habitat calls for post COVID-19 cities to lead the way to a healthier future    2) It has to be ensured that the health rules are properly maintained in all places of worship, including mosques. 3) Public gathers will have to be limited in tourist, recreation spots, movie houses and theatres, and all kinds of fairs should be discouraged.  4) The health rules will have to be maintained in public transports, and the number of passengers cannot exceed 50 percent of the capacity of a vehicle. Also read: Covid-19: Secret filming exposes contamination risk at test results lab  5) Inter-district traffic should be restricted and if necessary, prohibited in the areas having the high  Covid-19 infection risk.  6) Passengers from foreign lands must stay in 14-day institutional quarantine (with own expenses at hotel).  7)  Arrangements have to be made for the sale of daily essentials in open places maintaining the health rules.  It will have to be ensured  that the health rules are maintained in pharmacies.