Outside a funeral home in eastern Beijing, dozens of people were bundled up in parkas and hats against the freezing temperatures Friday evening as workers in full protective suits wheeled out coffins one by one. When an employee with a clipboard shouted the name of the dead, a relative trundled up to the coffin to examine the body. One of the relatives told The Associated Press their loved one had been infected with COVID-19. Deaths linked to the coronavirus are appearing in Beijing after weeks of China reporting no fatalities, even as the country is seeing a surge of cases. That surge comes as the government last week dramatically eased some of the world’s strictest COVID-19 containment measures. On Wednesday, the government said it would stop reporting asymptomatic COVID-19 cases since they’ve become impossible to track with mass testing no longer required. That halt in reporting made it unclear how fast the virus is spreading. Social media posts, business closures and other anecdotal evidence suggest huge numbers of infections. It's also unclear how many people are dying from the virus. An AP reporter who visited the Dongjiao Funeral home was told by relatives that at least two people cremated there had died after testing positive. Health authorities had designated Dongjiao and one other funeral home to cremate those who die after testing positive, according to a relative of one of the dead. The woman said her elderly relative had fallen ill in early December, tested positive, and died Friday morning in an emergency ward. She said there were lots of people in the emergency ward who had tested positive for COVID-19, adding that there weren’t enough nurses to take care of them. The woman did not want to be identified for fear of retribution. Over about an hour, an AP reporter saw about a dozen bodies wheeled from the Dongjiao funeral home. About a half-dozen people inside described how another victim had struggled to breathe that morning before dying, and the death certificate listed “pneumonia” as the cause of death, even after a positive test for COVID-19, one of those people said. The people interviewed did not want to be identified for fear of retribution. Read more: China reduces COVID-19 case number reporting as virus surges Three employees of shops in the complex that houses the funeral home said there had been a marked increase in the number of people going there in recent days. One estimated about 150 bodies were being cremated daily, up from what is normally a few dozen a day. One employee attributed it to the coronavirus, although another said there are usually more deaths with the arrival of winter. The employees did not want to be identified for fear of retribution. China has not reported a death from COVID-19 since Dec. 4. China’s official death toll remains low, with just 5,235 deaths — compared with 1.1 million in the United States. However, public health experts caution that such statistics can’t be directly compared. Chinese health authorities count only those who died directly from COVID-19, excluding those whose underlying conditions were worsened by the virus. In many other countries, guidelines stipulate that any death where the coronavirus is a factor or contributor is counted as a COVID-19-related death. Experts say this has been the longstanding practice in China, but questions have been raised at times about whether officials have sought to minimize the figures. Also on Friday, China’s Cabinet ordered rural areas to prepare for the return of migrant workers this holiday season in hopes of preventing a big surge in COVID-19 cases in communities with limited medical resources. Returnees must wear masks and avoid contact with elderly people, and village committees must monitor their movements, the guidelines said, but didn't mention the possibility of isolation or quarantines. There are fears of a surge in cases around China's winter holidays, when tens of millions take to trains, buses and planes for what may be their only trip home all year. Read more: China students return home amid COVID travel spread fears The upcoming Lunar New Year falls on Jan. 22, but migrants generally begin heading home two weeks or more in advance. Some Chinese universities say they will allow students to finish the semester from home to help spread out the travel rush and reduce the potential for a bigger outbreak. Medical resources in smaller cities and rural communities, which are home to about 500 million of China's 1.4 billion people, lag far behind those of large cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. Rural medical infrastructure includes 17,000 county-level hospitals — many of which lack even a single ICU bed — 35,000 township health centers and 599,000 village clinics. China has been pushing to increase the number of fever clinics in rural areas to treat those with COVID-19 symptoms. Currently, about 19,400 such clinics or consulting rooms operate in communities and townships around the country, state media reported Friday. By March 2023, about 90% of health centers at the township level will have fever clinics, Nie Chunlei, head of primary health at the National Health Commission, said Thursday. “This will effectively enhance the capability of primary-level health care institutions to receive patients with fever,” said Nie, who also urged stockpiling of medicines and antigen test kits, many of which have become scarce even in big cities. The lifting of some travel regulations has spurred both relief and anxiety over the level of COVID-19 preparedness. Health experts have said China will face a peak of infections in the next month or two and is trying to persuade reluctant seniors and others at risk to get vaccinated. The changes follow growing frustration with the “zero-COVID" policy blamed for hindering the economy and creating massive social stress. The easing began in November, and accelerated after Beijing and several other cities saw protests over the restrictions that grew into calls for President Xi Jinping and the Communist Party to step down — a level of public dissent not seen in decades. It's unclear what prompted the government's shift in policy. Experts cite economic pressure, public discontent, and the difficulties of containing the extremely infectious omicron variant as factors. China wasn't fully prepared for opening up from a public health standpoint, and the decision was driven mainly by economic and social factors, said Zeng Guang, a health expert formerly affiliated with China’s Center for Disease Control, speaking at a conference organized by the state-run Global Times newspaper. Under the relaxed rules, obligatory testing is no longer required and people with mild symptoms are permitted to recover at home rather than go to a quarantine center. Meanwhile, the semi-autonomous gambling enclave of Macao will scrap its mandatory hotel quarantine for arrivals from Hong Kong, Taiwan and overseas starting Saturday, the government said. However, travelers must spend five days in home isolation and undergo testing, and are barred from entering mainland China until the 10th day upon arrival. Both Macao and Hong Kong have scrapped most anti-COVID-19 measures.

The country reported three new Covid-linked deaths and 167 cases in 24 hours till Wednesday morning, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). With the new numbers, the country's total fatalities rose to 29,319 while the caseload to 2,010,490, it added. The daily case test positivity rate rose to 3.89 per cent from Tuesday’s 3.85 per cent as 4,293 samples were tested. Read: US donates additional 10mn Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses to Bangladesh Among the deceased, two were women and another was a man from Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions. The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.46 percent. The recovery rate remained static at 97.22 percent. In July, the country reported 142 Covid-linked deaths and 31,422 cases, the highest monthly death toll and caseload since March this year. Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 the same year.

Bangladesh recorded three more Covid-linked deaths with 375 fresh cases in 24 hours till Wednesday morning. With the latest numbers, the total fatalities reached 29,298 while the caseload 2,006,368, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The daily case positivity rate dropped to 6.53 per cent from Tuesday's 7.72 percent as 5,785 samples were tested. All the deceased were men and they were from Dhaka division. Read: Bangladesh sees 142 Covid deaths, 31,422 cases in July, highest in 5 months The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.46 percent. The recovery rate rose to 96.95 per cent from Tuesday's 96.92 per cent. In July, Bangladesh reported 142 Covid-linked deaths and 31,422 cases, the highest death toll and cases in the last five months since March this year, as per DGHS. Among the deceased, 57 were unvaccinated while seven received the first dose, 52 the second dose and 26 the third dose, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Besides, 34,901 patients recovered from the disease during this period. Bangladesh reported its first zero Covid death on November 20 last year since the pandemic broke out here in March 2020. The country registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 in the same year.

Bangladesh registered seven more Covid-linked deaths with 1,998 cases in 24 hours till Tuesday morning amid rapid surge in new infections. The fresh numbers took the country's total caseload to 1,982,972 and the total fatalities to 29,182, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The daily case positivity rate rose to 16.74 per cent from Monday’s 16.51 per cent as 11,882 samples were tested during the period, said the DGHS. Read:Social distancing norms flouted at Kamalapur railway station amid Covid surge All seven deceased were men. Of them, five were from Dhaka and one each from Rajshahi and Mymensingh divisions. On Monday, the country recorded 12 Covid-linked deaths, the four months’ highest, with 2,285 new cases. The country last reported 13 Covid-linked deaths with 368 cases while the daily positivity rate was at 2.11 per cent on March 5 this year. The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.47 per cent. The recovery rate declined to 96.28 per cent from Monday’s 96.36 per cent as 494 patients recovered during this period. In June, the country reported 18 Covid-linked deaths and 20,201 new cases, according to the DGHS. Read: Covid: Bangladesh logs 4 months’ highest 12 deaths with 2,285 cases The country reported its first zero Covid death in a single day on November 20 last year, along with 178 cases, since the pandemic broke out here in March 2020. On January 28, Bangladesh logged its previous highest positivity rate of 33.37 per cent. The country registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 in the same year.

Bangladesh logged 92 fresh Covid cases in 24 hours till Thursday morning, taking the total caseload to 19,51,072 . As per the latest government data, the country’s total fatalities remained unchanged at 29,118 as no death was reported during the period. On Wednesday, the country reported one Covid-linked with 134 fresh cases. The daily positivity rate lowered to 0.76 percent from Wednesday’s 1.27 per cent after testing 12,111 samples during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Besides, the mortality rate remained unchanged too at 1.49 per cent. Also read: Bangladesh makes good progress despite Covid pandemic: PM The recovery rate rose to 96.09 per cent with the recovery of 1,114 more patients during the 24-hour period. The country reported first zero Covid-related death in a single day on November 20 last year along with 178 infections since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh in March 2020. On January 28, Bangladesh logged its previous highest daily positivity rate at 33.37 per cent reporting 15,440 cases and 20 deaths. Besides, the country registered the highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year, while the highest number of daily fatalities was 264 on August 10 last year. Also read: Global Covid cases top 475 million

Bangladesh once again reported zero Covid death with 116 fresh cases in 24 hours till Monday morning. It was better than on Sunday, when the country logged three Covid-related deaths with 82 cases. The country reported first zero Covid-related death in a single day on November 20 last year along with 178 infections since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh in March 2020. Also read: Global Covid cases top 470 million Meanwhile, the daily positivity rate rose a bit to 1.06 per cent from Sunday’s 0.90 per cent after testing 10,899 samples during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). With the latest numbers, the country’s total fatalities remained unchanged at 29,117 while the caseload mounted to 19,50,725. Meanwhile, the mortality rate remained unchanged too at 1.49 per cent. The recovery rate rose to 95.94 per cent with the recovery of 1,140 more patients during the 24-hour period. Also read: Bangladesh logs 3 Covid-linked deaths with 82 cases with positivity rate below 1% On January 28, Bangladesh logged its previous highest daily positivity rate at 33.37 per cent reporting 15,440 cases and 20 deaths. Besides, the country registered the highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year, while the highest number of daily fatalities was 264 on August 10 last year.

Bangladesh reported three Covid-linked deaths with 82 fresh cases in 24 hours till Sunday morning after seeing a deathless day. On Saturday, the country logged zero Covid-related deaths with 62 cases. Read: Bangladesh logs zero Covid-linked deaths again The country reported first zero Covid-related death in a single day on November 20 last year along with 178 infections since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh in March 2020. Meanwhile, the daily positivity rate rose a bit to 0.90 from Saturday’s 0.83 per cent after testing 9.082 samples during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). With the latest numbers country’s total fatalities rose to 29,117 while the caseload mounted to 19,50,609. Meanwhile, the mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 per cent. The recovery rate rose to 95.89 per cent with the recovery of 837 more patients during the 24-hour period. Read: After three days with no Covid deaths, two reported dead of virus Friday On January 28, Bangladesh logged its previous highest daily positivity rate at 33.37 per cent reporting 15,440 cases and 20 deaths. Besides, the country registered the highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year, while the highest number of daily fatalities was 264 on August 10 last year.

Bangladesh reported zero Covid-linked death with 62 fresh cases in 24 hours till Saturday morning On Friday, the country logged two Covid-related deaths with 106 cases after witnessing zero death from the virus infection for three consecutive days. On Tuesday, the country logged zero Covid-related deaths after more than three months. The country reported first zero Covid-related death in a single day on November 20 last year along with 178 infections since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh in March 2020. Meanwhile, the daily positivity rate declined to 0.83 per cent from Friday’s  1.16 per cent after testing 7,451 samples during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Also read: Global Covid cases top 467 million With the latest numbers country’s total fatalities remained unchanged at 29,114 while the caseload mounted to 19,50,527. Meanwhile, the mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 per cent. The recovery rate rose to 95.85 per cent with the recovery of 1,014 more patients during the 24-hour period. On January 28, Bangladesh logged its previous highest daily positivity rate at 33.37 per cent reporting 15,440 cases and 20 deaths. Also read: After three days with no Covid deaths, two reported dead of virus Friday Besides, the country registered the highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year, while the highest number of daily fatalities was 264 on August 10 last year.

Bangladesh logged five more Covid-linked deaths with 257 fresh cases in 24 hours till Friday morning amid a continuous downtrend in the positivity rate. The daily positivity rate slightly declined to 1.86 per cent from Thursday’s 1.91 per cent after testing 13,860 samples during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Friday’s fatalities were higher than three deaths reported on Thursday with 327 cases. Read: How will COVID end? Experts look to past epidemics for clues The latest numbers took the country’s total fatalities to 29,105 while the caseload to 19, 49,055. All the five deceased were men reported from Dhaka division. Meanwhile, the mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 per cent. The recovery rate rose to 95.31 per cent with the recovery of 2,399 more patients during the 24-hour period. On January 28, Bangladesh logged its previous highest daily positivity rate at 33.37 per cent reporting 15,440 cases and 20 deaths. On December 9 last year, Bangladesh logged zero Covid-related death after nearly three weeks. Read: How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed after two years? The country reported first zero Covid-related death in a single day on November 20 last year along with 178 infections since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh in March 2020. Besides, the country registered the highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year, while the highest number of daily fatalities was 264 on August 10 last year.

The global death toll from Covid-19 has now crossed six million, with the pandemic entering into its third year. According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 447,602,602 while the death toll from the virus reached 6,006,508 Tuesday morning. Despite vaccine availability, the United States is nearing one million reported deaths on its own, the biggest official death toll in the world, reports AP. The US has recorded 79,337,559 cases so far and 960,269 people have died from the virus in the country, the university data shows. Also read Living with Covid a privilege that many can't enjoy: IFRC chief India's Covid-19 tally rose to 42,970,454 on Monday as 4,362 new cases were registered in 24 hours across the country, as per the federal health ministry data. Besides, 108 deaths due to the pandemic since Sunday morning took the total death toll to 515,241. Meanwhile, Brazil, which has been experiencing a new wave of cases since January last year, registered 29,077,831 cases as of Tuesday, while its Covid death toll rose to 652,648. Global vaccine disparity continues, with only 6.95% of people in low-income countries fully vaccinated, compared to more than 73% in high-income nations, according to Our World in Data. Also read: Covid fallouts, Russia-Ukraine war behind price hike: PM Situation in Bangladesh Bangladesh reported four more Covid-linked deaths with 436 fresh cases in 24 hours till Monday morning, health authorities said. The daily positivity rate slightly decreased to 2.18 per cent from Sunday’s 2.63 per after testing 20,009 samples during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). On Sunday, Bangladesh reported eight Covid-linked deaths with 529 fresh cases. The fresh numbers took the country’s total fatalities to 29,089 and the caseload to 19,47,702. Of the 52 deaths recorded from February 28 to March 6, some 40.4 per cent received Covid vaccines while 59.6 per cent did not, the DGHS said. Among the new deceased, three were men and one was a woman. Three of the deaths were reported from Dhaka division while one from Sylhet division. Meanwhile, the mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 per cent. However, the recovery rate rose to 94.82 per cent with the recovery of 3,546 more patients during the 24-hour period.