Covid-19 infection rate climbs again

Highlights
•    Total infected: 423,620
•    Total death: 6,108
•    Total recovery: 341,416
•    Total sample test: 2,470,164

In the past 24 hours, 1,699 people have tested positive for novel coronavirus (Covid-19), and the total number of cases in the country now stands at 423,620.

With an infection rate today of 12.57% of the total tests, the rate in the country is clearly increasing, whereas infection rate in the last seven days hovered between 10-11%.  

Moreover, as of Tuesday 8 am, Bangladesh has confirmed 16 more deaths from the Covid-19 in the last 24 hours.

The country's death toll from the virus now stands at 6,108, according to a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Professor Nazrul Islam, noted virologist and former vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, told The Business Standard, "If and when the infection rate decreases below 5%, only then will we be able to accurately claim that the infection is under control."

1,648 patients were declared free of Covid-19 during the same period, raising the total number of recoveries to 341,416 with a recovery rate of 80.59%.

Among the latest day's victims, 15 were male and one was female. 15 passed away in different hospitals across the country, while one died at home.

Moreover, 10 of them hailed from Dhaka, three from Chattogram and one each from Rajshahi, Barishal and Khulna divisions.

13,520 samples were tested in 115 labs across the country in the past 24 hours. A total of 2,470,164 samples have been tested in the country so far.

The gender breakdown of Covid-19 victims shows that 4,703 of the total deceased are male and 1,405 are female.

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