After seeing below 200 deaths for four consecutive days, Bangladesh again reported 228 deaths in 24 hours as of Sunday morning.
Besides, 11,291 more people came out Covid positive in 37,587 sample tests during the period, said a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The new numbers took the country’s death tally to 19,274 today while the caseload to 1,164,635.
With Covid’s Delta variant spreading fast, the country’s fatalities had been hovering at nearly 200 for the last two weeks. It reported the highest daily Covid-19 fatality number – 231 – on July 19 and 13,768 infections on the 12th of the month.
Meanwhile, the daily test positivity rate decreased to 30. 04% from Saturday’s 32.55 %, while the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a 5% or below rate.
However, the case fatality rate remained static at 1.65% during the period, said the DGHS.
The recovery rate rose to 85.77% with 10,524 patients recovering during the 24- hour period.
READ: Global Covid fatalities up one-third over past week
Dhaka, the worst hit division, recorded the highest 69 deaths followed by 50 in Khulna, 40 in Chattogram, 21 in Rajshahi, 16 in Rangpur, 15 in Mymensingh, 11 in Sylhet and six in Barishal divisions.
Of them, 125 were men and 103 were women.
As per their age breakdown, one was under 10, two were between 11-20, eight between 21-30, 22 between 31-40, 34 between 41-50, 50 between 51-60 and 111 were above 60, the release added.
July, the most fatal
Reporting 4,771 deaths so far, July has become the most fatal month since the country saw its fast Covid cases in March, 2020.
Earlier, the country saw 2,404 Covid deaths in April, 1,169 in May and 1,884 in June marking the most fatal months of this year.
Also, July was the most fatal month of 2020, reporting 1,264 deaths followed by 1,197 deaths in June that year.
READ: Bangladesh to go for Covid vaccine coproduction soon: FM
Holiday backlash
Although the number of Covid tests marked a sharp fall during the Eid holidays, the rate of infection of the virus did not fall in the country, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Sunday.
“The number of tests was low as a little number of samples was collected during the last seven days due to the eid holidays. As a result, the total number of patients has declined. But in terms of percentage, the infection rate did not fall below 30 percent. Instead, the infection rate was 32.55 percent on July 24 (Saturday),” said DGHS spokesman Prof Nazmul Islam.
Speaking at a virtual press briefing on the country’s Covid situation, he said the number of sample collection and Covid tests will increase significantly within a few days.
Nazmul said Dhaka is the worst-hit district in terms of Covid infection with more than four lakh identified virus cases.
READ: Covid-19 in Bangladesh: Death toll nears 200 again as 195 more die
He said the other badly affected districts are Chittagong Cumilla Sylhet, Bogra, Narayanganj, Khulna and Faridpur.
Nazmul said Rajshahi is the least affected district with only 16,416 patients.
In terms of divisional death rate, the DGHS official said Dhaka is now on top followed by Khulna.
Source: United News of Bangladesh