Single-day Covid-19 deaths at 5-month low second time this week

Highlights:
          •    Total infected: 3,96,413
          •    Total death: 5,761
          •    Total recovery: 312,065
          •    Total sample test: 2,235,488

Bangladesh confirmed 14 more deaths from Covid-19 in the last 24 hours till Friday 8am, which is the lowest daily death count reported in the last five months.

This is the second time, after recording the same number of deaths on 18 October, the daily death toll from the virus was so low this week.

After 18 October Covid-19 daily deaths increased again from 19 October to 22 October. The daily death tolls on these four days were more than 20.

Previously, the single-day death toll decreased to 14 on 17 May.

Currently the Covid-19 death toll in the country stands at 5,761, according to a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Regarding the reports of lower number of deaths, noted virologist Professor Nazrul Islam told The Business Standard, "The number of deaths or new cases reported by the DGHS does not reflect the actual Covid-19 scenario in the country. The number of tests is decreasing so the detection of cases seems to be low."

Professor Nazrul Islam, former vice-chancellor of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, further said now only Covid-19 patients who die at hospitals are counted as fatalities caused by the virus, not patients who die at home.

"There is a misconception among the people that the DGHS has stopped the daily bulletin. Many people are not being admitted to the hospital. Many of them are not wearing masks. To reduce infection and deaths, wearing masks and following hygiene guidelines must be emphasised," he added.

In the last 24 hours, 1,586 people tested positive for Covid-19, which took the total number of people infected by the virus in the country to 3,96,413.

There were 13 men and one woman among the people who died during that period. All of them died in different hospitals across the country.

Twelve of the deceased hailed from Dhaka and two from Rajshahi divisions.

In the last 24 hours, 14,119 samples were tested in 111 labs across the country. So far, 22,35,488 samples have been tested across the country.

The latest infection rate was 11.23% of the total tests and the overall rate in the country to date was 17.73%. The death rate now stands at 1.45%.

Meanwhile, 1,533 patients were declared free of Covid-19 during the same period, raising the total number of recoveries to 3,12,065 with a 78.72% recovery rate.

The country's first cases were reported on March 8 this year and the first death from the virus was reported on March 18.