The overall number of global Covid cases is fast approaching 243 million even with mass inoculations underway in several countries. According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 242,956,411 while the death tally from the virus reached 4,937,482 on Saturday morning. The US has recorded 45, 400,320 cases to date and more than 735,371 people have died so far from the virus in the country, as per the university data. Brazil, which has been experiencing a new wave of cases since January, registered 21,711,843 cases as of Friday, while its Covid death toll rose to 605,139. India's Covid-19 tally rose to 34,143,236 on Friday, as 15,786 new cases were registered in 24 hours across the country, as per the federal health ministry data. Read: Covid-19: Bangladesh reports increased deaths, cases in 24 hrs Besides, 231 more deaths were recorded since Thursday morning, taking the death toll to 453,042. Situation in Bangladesh Covid-19 claimed four more lives and infected 232 people in Bangladesh in 24 hours till Friday morning. The daily case positivity rate decreased further to 1.36 percent from Thursday’s  1.51 percent. With the fresh numbers, the Covid fatalities reached 27,805 while the caseload climbed to 1,567,138 in Bangladesh, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Of the latest deaths, two were men and two women. Read: FDA panel endorses lower-dose Moderna COVID shot for booster The new cases were detected after testing 17,100 samples during the 24-hour period. Besides, the recovery rate rose slightly to 97.67  percent, with 564 more patients getting cured.

The overall number of global Covid cases has now surged past 240 million, despite the ongoing mass inoculations in several countries. According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total Covid case count and fatalities stand at 240,043,461 and 4,889,036, respectively, as of Saturday morning. The US has recorded 44,884,474 cases and 723,747 fatalities to date, according to the university data. India's Covid-19 tally rose to 34,037,592 on Friday as 16,862 new confirmed cases were registered in the past 24 hours across the South Asian country, as per the federal health ministry data. An additional 379 deaths from the pandemic were recorded during this period, taking the total death toll to 451,814. Read:Merck asks US FDA to authorize promising anti-COVID pill Brazil currently has the world's second-highest pandemic death toll after the United States and the third-largest caseload after the United States and India. Brazil has registered 21,627,476 cases so far. The country's Covid death toll has also risen to 602,669 as it has been experiencing a new wave of cases since January. Situation in Bangladesh Covid-19 claimed nine more lives in Bangladesh and infected 396 others in 24 hours till Friday morning. With the fresh numbers, the Covid-19 fatalities reached 27,746 in the country while the caseload rose to 15,64,881, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Of the latest deceased, five were women and four men. Six of them died in Dhaka division, two in Chattogram and one in Sylhet division. Also read: Global Covid cases top 238 million Bangladesh last logged seven Covid-19 deaths on October 8, the lowest since March 17 this year when the country recorded 11 such deaths. The fresh cases were detected after testing 18,980 samples. With this, the daily case positivity rate declined slightly to 2.09 percent. However, the mortality rate remained static at 1.77 percent. Besides, the recovery rate increased slightly to 97.57 percent, with 523 more patients getting cured during the period. So far, 15,26,891 people have recovered from the deadly virus infection, the DGHS said.

The overall number of global Covid cases has now surged past 231 million, despite mass inoculations in several countries across the world. According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 231, 105,748 while the death tally from the virus reached 4,736,892 Saturday morning. The US has recorded 42,852,711 cases to date and more than 687,078 people have died so far from the virus in the country, as per the university data. Brazil, which has been experiencing new wave of cases since January, registered 21,317,616 cases as of Saturday morning. Brazil's Covid-19 death toll has risen to 593,663, the Ministry of Health said on Friday. Besides, India's Covid-19 tally rose to 33,594,803 on Friday, as 31,382 new cases were registered in 24 hours across the country, as per the health ministry data. Read: Young children's diets could get worse under Covid: Unicef Besides, as many as 318 deaths due to the pandemic were reported since Thursday morning, taking the total death toll to 446,368. Situation in Bangladesh Amid a declining positivity rate, Covid-19 claimed 31 more lives and infected 1,233 others in the country in 24 hours till Friday morning. The latest cases were detected after testing 27,557 samples, showing a decline in the daily case positivity rate to 4.54 percent from Thursday’s 4.61 percent, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The case positivity rate is the lowest in around six months as the country last recorded 4.98 percent daily case positivity rate on March 8 this year. Meanwhile, it said the fatality rate remained static at 1.76 percent. On Thursday, the country recorded lowest Covid deaths of 24 since May 15 when the country saw 22 single-day deaths. According to DGHS, the fresh number of deaths took the country’s total Covid-19 fatalities to 27,368 while the caseload mounted to 15,49,553. Read: 'Rich man's disease': Curious case of Covid in Dhaka slums Besides, the recovery rate increased slightly to 97.40 percent on Friday with the recovery of 1,413 patients during the 24-hour period. So far, 1,509,202 people have recovered from the deadly virus infection, the DGHS added. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the daily case positivity rate should remain at 5 percent or below for 14 days before mass unlocking.

The overall number of global Covid cases is fast nearing 222 million, as the world is still struggling to contain the second wave of the pandemic even with mass inoculations underway. According to US-based Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 221,873,412 and the death toll reached 4,585,547 on Wednesday morning. So far, 5, 527,520,653 vaccine doses have been administered across the globe. The US, which is the world's worst-hit country in terms of both cases and deaths, has so far logged 40,279,732 cases. Besides, 650,511people have lost their lives in the US to date, as per the JHU data. Brazil currently has the world's second-highest pandemic death toll after the United States and the third-largest caseload after the United States and India. The country has recorded 20,914,237 cases with 584,108 fatalities so far, according to the health ministry. Also read: Covid in Bangladesh: Both cases and deaths fall further India's Covid-19 tally rose to 33,058,843 on Tuesday, and 31,222 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours across the country, as per the federal health ministry's latest data. Besides, as many as 290 deaths due to the pandemic since Monday morning took the total death toll to 441,042. Covid situation in Bangladesh Bangladesh logged 56 Covid-19 deaths and 2,639 cases in 24 hours till Tuesday morning, showing a decline in single-day fatalities and cases as compared to Monday's figures. The country reported 65 Covid-related deaths and 2,710 cases on Monday. The daily case positivity rate also fell slightly to 9.69% from Monday's 9.88%, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Also read: India’s COVID-19 vaccine supply jumps, raising export hopes The fresh numbers pushed the country’s total fatalities to 26,684, while the cases reached 15,19,805, the DGHS said. The new cases were detected after testing 27,466 samples during the 24-hour period. 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 and the latter part of August as the country experienced a surge in Covid-related cases 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). The government on Tuesday started administering the second doses of Covid-19 vaccine under its mass vaccination campaign, aiming to fight the deadly virus. Vaccination centres in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country drew huge crowds as vaccine seekers were seen standing close to each other with little or no regard for social distancing rules. Bangladesh on August 7 kicked off another phase of its mass vaccination drive aimed at inoculating 35 lakh people in six days.

The overall number of global Covid cases is fast nearing 218 million, as the world is still struggling to contain the second wave of the pandemic even with mass inoculations underway. According to US-based Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 217,632,545 and the death toll to 4,518,377 on Wednesday morning. So far, 5,277,415,976 vaccine doses have been administered across the globe. Read: India’s COVID-19 vaccine supply jumps, raising export hopes The US, which is the world's worst-hit country in terms of both cases and deaths, has so far logged 39,197,606 cases. Besides, 640,089 people have lost their lives in the US to date, as per the JHU data. Brazil currently has the world's second-highest pandemic death toll after the United States and the third-largest caseload after the United States and India. The country has recorded 20,776,870 cases with 580,413 fatalities so far, according to the health ministry. India's Covid-19 tally rose to 32,768,880 on Tuesday as 30,941 new cases were registered in 24 hours across the country, as per the federal health ministry. Read: Covid in Bangladesh: Both cases and deaths fall further A total of 350 deaths due to the pandemic since Monday morning took the total death toll to 438,560 -- the world's third-highest after the US and Brazil. Situation in Bangladesh Both the Covid-19 cases and fatalities in Bangladesh dropped further as the country logged 86 deaths and 3,357 new cases, respectively, in 24 hours till Tuesday morning. The country last saw 112 coronavirus-related deaths on June 29 and the upswing in the fatalities reached its peak on August 5 and 10 when 264 deaths were recorded. Read: Govt plans to provide Covid jabs to two crore people by September The fresh numbers have pushed the country’s total fatalities to 26,195, while the cases reached 1,500,618, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The new cases were detected after the test of 28,097 samples in the past 24 hours, which reduced the daily case positivity rate to 11.95% from Monday’s 12.07%, said the DGHS. Meanwhile, the government aims at vaccinating two crore people against Covid by next month, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said on Tuesday.

The global Covid-19 caseload has now surpassed 201 million as the highly contagious Delta variant continues to devastate several countries even with mass inoculations underway. The total caseload and fatalities stand at 201,662,684 and 4,276,940 respectively, as of Saturday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University (JHU). So far, 4,346,167,629 vaccine doses have been administered across the globe. The US, which is the world's worst-hit country in terms of both cases and deaths, has so far logged 35,692,078 cases. Besides, 616,478 people have lost their lives in the US to date, as per the JHU data. Brazil has registered 1,056 more Covid-19 deaths in the past 24 hours, raising its national death toll to 561,762, the health ministry said on Friday. Read:Covid vaccination reduces chances of hospitalization, mortality: IEDCR study Meanwhile, the total caseload rose to 20,108,746 after 42,159 new cases were detected. Brazil currently has the world's second-highest pandemic death toll after the United States, and the third-largest caseload after the United States and India. India's Covid-19 tally rose to 31,856,757 on Friday as 44,643 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours across the country, according to the federal health ministry's latest data. Read: Govt has set up 16,000 Covid beds since the beginning of pandemic: Zahid Maleque Besides, as many as 464 deaths were reported during this period, taking the total death toll to 426,754. Situation in Bangladesh As the ruthless Delta variant keeps spreading like wildfire, Bangladesh added 248 fatalities to its national tally Friday, up from 212 logged a week earlier. The country has been reporting over 200 single-day fatalities for the past two weeks as it races to head off a surge in Covid-19 cases driven by the unrelenting Delta variant. After weathering the first wave of the virus, Bangladesh's health services are now stretched dangerously thin. The Covid-19 infections are on the upswing, with 13,771 – 95% of the peak – new cases reported on an average each day. Read: Covid in Bangladesh: Seniors far more likely to face the worst Bangladesh recorded 12,606 new cases on Friday after testing 48,015 samples, down from 13,862 logged a week earlier on July 30. There have been 1,335,260 infections and 22,150 coronavirus-related deaths here since the pandemic began, according to the Directorate General of Health Services.  

The global death toll from Covid-19 is approaching 3.4 million, as the race for mass inoculations continues.    More than 3,399,194 people have died so far from the virus, while 163,952,478 cases have been reported worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University.   Some 1,507,598,872 vaccine doses have been administered till Wednesday morning, according to the university.   The US has recorded 587,198 deaths since the pandemic began. Over 32,996,675 people have been found infected with the virus, if Johns Hopkins figures are to be believed.   India’s total virus cases since the pandemic began swept past 25 million on Tuesday. To be specific, the country’s total caseload currently stand at 25, 228,996, as per the data released by the government. Also read; Global Covid-19 death toll hits 2.7 million   The numbers continue a trend of falling cases after infections dipped below 300,000 for the first time in weeks on Monday. Active cases in the country also decreased by more than 165,000 on Tuesday — the biggest dip in weeks, reports AP.   But deaths have continued to rise and hospitals are still swamped with patients. India has registered 278,719 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.   Brazil on Tuesday reported 2,513 more deaths from Covid-19, raising the national count to 439,050, the Ministry of Health said.   The ministry said that 75,445 more infections were detected, raising the nationwide tally to 15,732,836.   According to the ministry, Brazil now has a death rate of 208.9 per 100,000 inhabitants.   Situation in Bangladesh   Bangladesh on Tuesday registered 30 more coronavirus-related deaths in 24 hours, pushing up the total fatalities to 12,211.   Besides, 1,272 new cases were detected during the period after testing 16,855 samples, the Directorate General of Health Services said in a handout. Read: Vaccine production in Bangladesh: Experts 'vehemently against private sector’s engagement'   The daily infection rate rose to 7.55 percent on Tuesday from Monday’s 6.75 percent.   With the new cases, the total caseload reached 7,28,129 while the total number of recoveries stood at 7,24,209, including 1,115 in the past 24 hours.   Vaccination drive   Bangladesh launched its vaccination drive on February 7 with Oxford-AstraZeneca doses purchased from India's Serum Institute.   The government signed an agreement with Serum for 30 million doses. But a record number of cases in India has now made the delivery of the doses uncertain.   In fact, the country, the prime recipient of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, has suspended the registration for Covid-19 jabs due to vaccine shortage amid a delay in the timely arrival of shipments from India.   In the past 24 hours, no one has received the first dose of the vaccine, while 64,377 have received the second dose, said the health directorate.    

The Covid-19 situation is worsening around the world by the day, even with mass inoculations underway. The overall number of corona cases has now topped 161.5 million. According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total caseload reached 161,566,026 while the death toll from the virus mounted to 3,353,630 on Saturday morning. Besides, 1,410, 840,110 vaccine doses have been administered across the globe to date, said JHU. The US, the worst-hit country in the world, has so far recorded 32,894,616 cases with 585,225 fatalities, as per the latest JHU data. Neighbouring India has registered 24,046,809 cases with 262,317 fatalities to date, according to the health ministry. Read: Global Covid-19 cases top 160 million India has been experiencing a staggering Covid-19 situation for the past several weeks and the World Health Organization has designated the Indian variant "a variant of concern" that might be more contagious than most versions of the coronavirus. Brazil on Friday reported 2,211 more deaths from Covid-19, raising the national count to 432,628, the Ministry of Health said. According to the ministry, Brazil now has a death rate of 205.9 per 100,000 inhabitants. Meanwhile, 85,536 more infections were detected, raising the nationwide tally to 15,519,525. 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 lost 26 more lives to Covid-19, including nine in Dhaka and seven in Chattogram divisions, in the past 24 hours till Friday morning amid muted Eid celebrations in the wake of the pandemic. Read:Covid death toll hits 12,102 as Bangladesh celebrates another Eid amid pandemic The latest number – lowest in 51 days – took the country's Covid-related death count to 12,102. However, the mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.55%, according to the Directorate General of Health Services. Bangladesh has so far confirmed 779,535 Covid-19 cases, with 848 people coming out positive in 7,835 tests in 24 hours till Friday morning. Another lockdown extension looms The nationwide lockdown, imposed on April 5 to break the chain of Covid-19 infections and fatalities, has been extended several times to limit public movement or contain the surge in daily infections. The ongoing lockdown, set to end on May 16, is likely to be extended by another week to keep close tabs on the situation as a mass exodus from the cities before Eid-ul-Fitr has stoked fears of a third wave of infections. The lockdown measures fell flat as tens of thousands of people left Dhaka and other cities to join their families in home villages to celebrate Eid, despite stark warnings that the exodus could worsen the country's coronavirus outbreak. The country’s health authorities have expressed concerns that the mass travel will spread the coronavirus and reverse a recent hard-won decline in cases following weeks of nationwide lockdown. Read: Return to Dhaka after lockdown ends: Mayor Taposh At least five people died and 50 others were injured in a stampede on Wednesday as thousands of people returned to their native villages from Dhaka and other cities for Eid-ul-Fitr, defying all Covid-19 restrictions. Another Eid celebration robbed of by pandemic Muslims celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr in a dull mood for the second year in a row on Thursday and Friday as coronavirus restrictions cast shadows over the festival's mass gatherings and family reunions. Many Covid-hit countries, including Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Malaysia and Indonesia, imposed curbs and shut shops and even some mosques. Earlier, Bangladeshi authorities urged everyone not to congregate to offer special prayers for the festival on Friday and instead offer prayers in phases at local mosques following health guidelines. Read: Beware of Indian covid variant: Quader In Dhaka, devotees attended the first congregation of Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. Four congregations took place there till 10.15am. 'Variant of concern' The new Indian variant of coronavirus has been detected in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, prompting authorities to axe travel corridors with India. The World Health Organization has designated it "a variant of concern" that might be more contagious than most versions of the coronavirus. In Bangladesh, the South African variant is "widely present" and the UK variant has also been detected. Viruses mutate constantly, and an upsurge in infections in a country could result in more opportunities for new versions to emerge, according to experts. Vaccination drive In late January, countries including Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka started receiving vaccine doses through donations from India and other countries and commercial deals. Read: Shortage of vaccines a 'temporary' problem, follow health guidelines: President Bangladesh launched its vaccination drive on February 7 with Oxford-AstraZeneca doses it acquired from India's Serum Institute. The government had signed an agreement with Serum for 30 million doses. But India temporarily halted exports of vaccines on March 24 to prioritise domestic requirements, following an explosion in Covid cases and fatalities in the country. The move has left the region with a serious shortage of vaccines.