Single-day Covid cases highest after 11 weeks
Another 372 patients were declared free of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours
Bangladesh reported 495 more Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours till 8am Wednesday, marking a single-day highest infections after 11 weeks, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said in its routine daily statement.
"The country reported 2.37% Covid-19 positive cases as 20,914 samples were tested in the past 24 hours, while the coronavirus claimed one more life", the DGHS statement added.
On 13 October the total number of infected people was 518. After that, the coronavirus infections did not cross 500.
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In the recent past, the infection rate dropped below 1% and the situation was quite stable. But now, the infection is going up, near to 2.5%.
With the latest additions, the death toll reached 28,063 and the case tally increased to 15,84,518 in the country.
Another 372 patients were declared free of Covid-19 during the last 24 hours, with a 97.72% recovery rate.
The country's maiden cases were reported on 8 March last year and the first death from the virus was reported on 18 March.
Globally, over 282.88 million people have been infected by the novel coronavirus and 5.41 million have died, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.
Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.
Vaccines will reach every ward of the country: Health minister
The government is taking the initiative to administer Covid-19 vaccines in every ward across the country from next month, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said yesterday while addressing the Annual General Meeting of Essential Drugs Company Limited at Dhaka Club.
"We have already arranged 31 crore vaccines, of which 12 crore jabs have been provided so far," Zahid Maleque said.
The minister also hoped that the government's vaccination target will be fulfilled by June next year.
"Bangladesh has received appreciation from the world for dealing with Coronavirus. Bangladesh stood first in Southeast Asia for its actions taken against the coronavirus. Bloomberg magazine praised Bangladesh's initiatives," he said.
Pointing out that Omicron-infection may increase in the coming days, the health minister said, "Vaccines alone will not prevent Omicron. We have to follow the proper health guidelines."
The minister also urged everyone to wear face masks to deal with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
