Covid-19 Second Wave
Several U.S. states shut down Johnson & Johnson vaccine sites after adverse reactions reported
Several states in the United States have temporarily shut down some vaccine sites after people suffered adverse reactions to the shot.
A total of 18 people in North Carolina reported side effects, while 11 people in Colorado reacted to the shot with symptoms ranging from dizziness, nausea and fainting, according to media reports.
Georgia was the third U.S. state to temporarily shut down a vaccine site following North Carolina and Colorado, after eight people suffered adverse reactions following vaccination.
According to local officials, one person was sent to a nearby hospital for evaluation before being released. The other seven were sent home after being monitored at the site.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said its analysis "did not find any safety issues or reason for concern." The agency recommended that healthcare providers continue to administer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Another problem facing Johnson & Johnson is vaccine distribution. The supply of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine is expected to drop by 85 percent nationwide this week, after the company suffered production issues at a facility in Baltimore, Maryland, according to federal officials and data.
A manufacturing subcontractor in Baltimore mixed ingredients from the COVID-19 vaccines of Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca, delaying shipments of the Johnson & Johnson shot across the nation.
The plant is run by Emergent BioSolutions, a manufacturing partner to both Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca. Federal officials attributed the mistake to human error, which resulted in contamination of up to 15 million doses of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine.
Jeff Zients, the White House coronavirus coordinator, said Friday that the company is still working to address the production issues in Emergent BioSolutions, which is not certified yet by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine was approved for emergency use in the United States in late February. It is the third COVID-19 vaccine that has received FDA's authorization, also the first single dose COVID-19 vaccine available in the United States.
As of Monday, about 189 million COVID-19 vaccine shots have been administered, while more than 237 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been distributed across the country, according to data of the CDC.
Covid-19: Bangladesh shatters single-day death count record again
Bangladesh is seeing an increase in coronavirus fatalities, breaking its single-day death count record for the third time in as many days on Monday.
The health authorities confirmed 83 deaths in the afternoon, surpassing Sunday’s figure of 78. The number was 77 on Saturday.
Also read:Shots in little arms: COVID-19 vaccine testing turns to kids
Fatalities from Covid-19 rose to 9,822 as the mortality rate remained static at 1.42 percent for the fourth consecutive day, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said in a handout.
Bangladesh announced its first coronavirus death on March 18 last year. The virus claimed 568 lives in January this year, 281 in February and 638 in March.
Between 8am Sunday and 8am Monday, 7,201 new cases were recorded, pushing up the caseload 691,957.
The infection rate jumped to 20.59 percent from 19.81 percent of Sunday’s. So far, 5,037,833 samples, including 34,968 in the last 24 hours, have been tested.
Bangladesh has been seeing record number of infections with daily case count surpassing 7,000-mark earlier this month before falling significantly on April 10 and April 11.
Also read:Are some Covid-19 vaccines more effective than others?
Meanwhile, 581,113 patients have recovered so far, including 4,523 in the last 24-hour period, the DGHS said.
Bangladesh set to go under complete lockdown from Apr 14; notification Sunday
As the spread of Coronavirus has sparked alarm across the country, the government is set to issue a notification on Saturday over enforcing a fresh nationwide lockdown from April 14 in its desperate bid to stop the spread of the deadly virus.
A fresh lockdown is coming with tougher measures as the virus keeps spreading fast in the country, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain said while talking to UNB about the lockdown notification.
“The country saw the highest death from Covid-19 today. The situation will get out of hand if we don’t take tougher measures. So, we’ve decided to go for an all-out lockdown from April 14,” he said.
Also read: Bangladesh again breaks daily Covid death record with 77
Replying to a question whether there would be any restriction for April 12 and 13 after the ongoing 7-day lockdown tomorrow (Sunday), the state minister said there would be directives regarding these two days in tomorrow’s (Sunday’s) notification.
Everything except emergency services will be closed this time, said Farhad Hossain adding, “Garment factories, transport movement and all the offices except those of emergency services will remain shut.”
BNP for 'all-party committee' to stop Covid surge
BNP on Friday proposed the formation of an 'all-party committee' to involve people for containing the second wave of coronavirus in Bangladesh.
"We think there’s still time to form an all-party committee to get rid of the coronavirus problem. One thing we want to emphasise that it's not possible to overcome a huge challenge like Covid without the involvement of people,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a virtual press conference, he said it is necessary to involve the people of all walks of life, political parties, different organisations and individuals to tackle a pandemic like coronavirus.
The BNP leader said effective campaigns should be launched to make people aware of the situation and the deadly virus. “People need to be given an idea of the severity of the disease to get their cooperation in the fight against it. Let's save people and the country with united efforts based on a national consensus.”
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh records 7000+ cases for fifth day
He said a strategy should be worked out to protect people's both lives and livelihoods. “We call upon the government to provide adequate incentives to entrepreneurs of the informal sector.”
Besides, Fakhrul said, those who are working in the informal sector, including the employees of shops and small factories, should be given allowances as long as the problem persists, especially when there is a lockdown.
He also urged the government to carry out relief activities to mitigate the sufferings of the destitute and day-labourers.
The BNP leader demanded the government take effective steps to ensure vaccine for the majority population of the country and thus attain herd immunity to eliminate the Coronavirus.
Also read: Covid situation getting out of hand: BNP
"We’ve learned from experts that if Bangladesh wants to attain hard immunity, at least 125 million people must be vaccinated and health rules must be followed. But the government still couldn't manage the required number of vaccine doses,” he said.
He appreciated the government’s reported move to import vaccines from China and Russia. “Why didn’t you do this earlier?”
Fakhrul called upon the government to work out a roadmap to collect vaccines for at least 12.5 crore people and properly distribute those in a bid to attain herd immunity.
Besides, he urged the government to take steps for ensuring healthcare facilities, enhancing testing capacities and increasing ICU beds for the coronavirus infected people.
Also read: Lockdown unproductive due to mismanagement: BNP
As the government is planning to enforce a full lockdown from April 14, he said the government should have a strategy to implement it by taking necessary steps to reduce public sufferings during Ramadan.
Fakhrul called upon their party’s all units to stand by the corona infected and poor people affected by the lockdown.
Fakhrul said their party’s around 400 leaders and activists have so far died of coronavirus while over 5,000 were infected with the virus.
Grim view of global future offered in intelligence report
U.S. intelligence officials are painting a dark picture of the world’s future, writing in a report released Thursday that the coronavirus pandemic has deepened economic inequality, strained government resources and fanned nationalist sentiments.
Those assessments are included in a Global Trends report by the government’s National Intelligence Council, a document produced every four years. This year’s report is designed to help policymakers and citizens anticipate the economic, environmental, technological and demographic forces likely to shape the world through the next 20 years.
Also read: Covid-19 continues to wreak havoc: Global cases top 76.7 ...
The document focuses heavily on the impact of the pandemic, calling it the “most significant, singular global disruption since World War II, with health, economic, political, and security implications that will ripple for years to come.”
Nations in different parts of the world set new records Thursday for COVID-19 deaths and new infections, underscoring the lingering global toll of the virus.
“COVID-19 has shaken long-held assumptions about resilience and adaptation and created new uncertainties about the economy, governance, geopolitics, and technology,” the report says.
The document finds cause for concern in virtually all aspects of life.
It warns, for instance, that the effects of climate change are likely to worsen the problem of food and water insecurity in poor countries and hasten global migration. Though health, education and household prosperity have made historic improvements in recent decades, continued progress will be hard to sustain because of “headwinds” not only from the effects of the pandemic but also aging populations and “potentially slower global economic growth.”
Advances in technology have the potential to address problems including climate change and disease, but can also provoke new tensions, the report says.
Also read: A rapid COVID-19 vaccine rollout backfired in some US states
“State and nonstate rivals will vie for leadership and dominance in science and technology with potentially cascading risks and implications for economic, military, and societal security,” the report says.
The report also warns of eroding trust in government and institutions and of a “trust gap” between the general public and the better informed and educated parts of the population.
Covid-19: Bangladesh sees highest daily death toll of 74
As Covid-19 continues its onslaught despite lockdown, Bangladesh on Thursday registered 74 more deaths during the last 24 hours till Thursday morning, breaking its all the previous records.
The number of new Coronavirus cases dropped slightly to 6,854 after remaining over 7,000 for the past four days, said a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
With the new 74 deaths, the Covid-19 fatalities rose to 9,521 while the mortality rate remained static at 1.43 percent.
Also read:Bangladesh begins second phase of Covid-19 vaccination drive
The infection rate slipped to 20.65 percent from 22.02 percent on Wednesday.
During the reporting period, 3,391 patients recovered, raising the number of recoveries to 565,030, the DGHS said.
Even though the government enforced a weeklong lockdown restricting people’s movement, shutting shops, markets and suspending operations of public transport (bus, train and domestic flights), people took it lightly and are moving around freely defying the restrictions.
Later, the government allowed the movement of public transports in city corporation areas and reopened shops and shopping malls until April 13.
The virus claimed 568 lives in Bangladesh in January alone this year, while 281 in February and 638 in March. Bangladesh has so far recorded 666,132 coronavirus cases, according to the handout.
Bangladesh shatters its all-time records of daily Covid cases
Bangladesh registered the highest number of daily infections with 7,626 new cases and 63 more deaths during the last 24 hours till Wednesday morning amid the deteriorating coronavirus situation.
With today’s figure, over 7,000 new Coronavirus cases were recorded for the fourth consecutive day, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
With the new 63 deaths, the Covid-19 fatalities rose to 9,447 while the mortality rate dropped slightly to 1.43 percent from Tuesday’s 1.44 percent.
Also read:Shots in little arms: COVID-19 vaccine testing turns to kids
The infection rate jumped to 22.02 percent from 21.02 percent on Wednesday.
During the 24-hour period, 3,256 patients recovered, taking the number of recoveries to 561,639, the DGHS handout said.
Although the government enforced a 7-day lockdown from Monday restricting people’s movement, shutting shops, markets and suspending operations of public transport (bus, train and domestic flights), people took it lightly and moving around freely defying the restriction, posing risks of more transmission.
However, the movement of city buses resumed on Wednesday, two days after the enforcement of the lockdown, as the government has allowed public transport services in city corporation areas.
Coronavirus claimed 568 lives in Bangladesh in January this year, while 281 in February and 638 in March.
Bangladesh has so far recorded 659,278 coronavirus cases, the DGHS handout added.
Also read:No risk of contracting Covid-19 due to vaccination: DGHS
The number of daily cases and infection rate had dropped below 5 percent earlier this year but then the infection rate continued to rise amid people’s reluctance about maintaining health safety rules.
Covid-19: Bangladesh breaks records with 7,213 daily cases, 66 deaths
Bangladesh witnessed record-breaking daily Covid-19 fatalities and infections with 66 deaths and 7,213 cases during the last 24 hours till Tuesday morning amid the worsening coronavirus situation.
More than 7,000 new Coronavirus cases were recorded for the third consecutive day on Tuesday, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
With the new 66 deaths, the coronavirus fatalities rose to 9,384 while the mortality rate dropped slightly to 1.44 percent as it was 1.45 percent on Monday.
During the 24-hour period, 2,969 patients recovered, taking the number of recoveries to 558,383, the DGHS handout said.
Although the government enforced a 7-day lockdown from Monday restricting people’s movement, shutting shops, markets and suspending operations of public transport (bus, train and domestic flights), people took it lightly and moving around feely defying the restriction, posing risks of more transmission.
Also read: Shots in little arms: COVID-19 vaccine testing turns to kids
Coronavirus claimed 568 lives in Bangladesh in January this year, while 281 in February and 638 in March.
Earlier, the country’s health authorities recorded over 5,000 Covid cases on March 29, 30 and 31 and April 3 while over 6,000 cases on April 1 and 2.
The infection rate came down to 21.02 percent from 23.40 percent on Monday.
Bangladesh has so far recorded 651,652 coronavirus cases, the DGHS handout added.
The number of daily cases and infection rate had dropped below 5 percent earlier this year but then the infection rate continued to rise amid people’s reluctance about maintaining health safety rules.
Hospitals are struggling to provide treatment to the increasing number of coronavirus patients with their limited resources. The government is increasing the number of beds and Covid-designated hospitals to deal with the situation.
'No iftar gatherings, sehri in mosques during Ramadan'
The government has asked the Muslim devotees not to arrange iftar gatherings and sehri in mosques during Ramadan to contain the recent surge in Covid-19 infections.
The religious affairs ministry on Monday issued new directives in this connection.
The guidelines also include instructions on praying in congregations at mosques. "The devotees must come to mosques after performing their ablution and Sunnah prayers at home. If they do not do so, they must wash hands with soap for at least 20 seconds while performing ablution at mosques," it read.
Also read: Govt reschedules office timing for Ramadan
The ministry said the worshippers, who visit mosques to pray in congregation, must arrive there wearing masks.
Mosque management committees must ensure the availability of handwashing facilities – sanitisers and soap water – at the entrance.
They have also been asked not to use carpets and clean the mosques with disinfectants before the five daily prayers.
"The devotees must bring their prayer mats. Social distancing must be ensured while they stand for prayers" the ministry said. "Children, elderly, sick people and attendants to the ill must not attend congregations."
Also read: Wear masks at mosques: Islamic Foundation
Also, the ministry asked local administration, law enforcement, khatib, imam and mosque committees to ensure the implementation of the said directives.
Local administration and law enforcement will take legal steps if anyone violates the instructions, the ministry said.
In the wake of Covid-19 infections and fatalities, the government imposed a seven-day lockdown from Monday.
Also read: Public transport to be suspended from Monday: Quader
Most of the transport services would remain suspended while the office work would continue on a limited scale.
On March 28, the Saudi government announced that there would be no iftar gatherings or Aitekaf at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah during Ramadan.
Covid’s alarming surge in Bangladesh continues
Bangladesh recorded more than 7,000 new Coronavirus cases for the second consecutive day on Monday as the country is struggling with the rising number of Covid infections during its second wave.
Health authorities recorded 7,075 fresh Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours until Monday morning while it registered 7087 cases a day earlier which was the highest number of infections in a single day since the start of the pandemic.
With 52 new deaths during the period, the coronavirus fatalities rose to 9,318. The mortality rate remained static at 1.45 percent.
Amid the worsening Covid situation, the government enforced a 7-day lockdown from Monday restricting people’s movement, shutting shops, markets and suspending operations of public transport (bus, train and domestic flights).
Also read:Second dose of Covid vaccine from Thursday: PM
Coronavirus claimed 568 lives in January this year, 281 in February and 638 in March.
Earlier, the health authorities recorded over 5,000 Covid cases on March 29, 30 and 31 and April 3 while over 6,000 cases on April 1 and 2.
The infection rate rose to 23.40 percent from 23.07 percent on Sunday.
Bangladesh has so far recorded 644,439 coronavirus cases, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The number of daily cases and infection rate dropped below 5 percent earlier this year but then infections continued to rise again amid people’s reluctance to maintain health safety rules.
Hospitals are struggling to provide treatment to the increasing number of coronavirus patients with their limited resources. The government is increasing the number of beds and Covid-designated hospitals to deal with the situation.
During the 24-hour period until Monday morning, 2,932 patients recovered, taking the number of recoveries to 555,414.
Bangladesh reported its first cases on March 8 last year and confirmed the first death from the virus 10 days later.
Also read:Covid-19: Bangladesh records 6,000+ cases for 2nd straight day
The country has so far tested 4,813,624 samples, including 30,239 in the last 24 hours, the DGHS said.