Believe it or not, the global Covid-19 caseload is fast nearing the grim milestone of 188 million.
The total caseload and fatalities stand at 187,739,616 and 4,047,966, respectively, as of Wednesday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University (JHU).
So far, 3,494,474,264 vaccine doses have been administered across the globe.
The Covid-19 curve in the US is rising again after months of decline, with the number of new cases daily doubling over the past three weeks, driven by the fast-spreading Delta variant, lagging vaccination rates and Fourth of July gatherings, reports AP.
Confirmed infections climbed to an average of about 23,600 a day on Monday, up from 11,300 on June 23, according to Johns Hopkins data. And all but two states — Maine and South Dakota — reported that case numbers have gone up over the past two weeks.
The US, which is the world’s worst-hit country in terms of both cases and deaths, has so far logged 33,914,039 cases. Besides, 607,763 people have lost their lives in the US to date.
Brazil registered 1,605 more Covid-19 deaths in the past 24 hours, raising its national death toll to 535,838, the health ministry said Tuesday.
As many as 45,022 new cases were detected during the period, taking the total caseload to 19,151,993, the ministry said.
Brazil currently has the world’s second-highest pandemic death toll, after the United States, and the third-largest caseload, after the United States and India.
The third worst-hit country, India’s Covid-19 tally rose to 30,907,282 on Tuesday as 32,906 new cases were registered in 24 hours across the country, according to the federal health ministry’s latest health data.
Besides, 2,020 deaths due to the pandemic since Monday morning took the fatality toll to 410,784, a steep rise from Monday’s figure of 724.
Situation in Bangladesh
Struggling with the second wave of the pandemic, Bangladesh on Tuesday morning recorded 12,198 new Covid cases and 203 deaths in 24 hours.
The new numbers took the country’s death tally to 16,842 and the caseload to 10,47,155, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The fresh cases were detected after testing 41,755 samples during the period, pushing up the case positivity rate to 29.21%.
The country saw a record number of 13,768 Covid cases on Monday and the highest-ever 230 deaths on Sunday.
So far, 889,167 people have recovered from the disease, taking the country’s recovery rate to 84.91%, which is on the decline compared to other indicators.
Of the latest deaths, 61 were reported in Dhaka, 53 in Khulna, 30 in Chattogram and 27 in Rajshahi. Besides, 15 people died in Rangpur, seven in Mymensingh and five each in Barishal and Sylhet divisions.
The country saw 2,404 Covid deaths in April, 1,169 in May and 1,884 in June, making those the most fatal months of this year. Also, July was the most fatal month in 2020, reporting 1,264 deaths followed by 1,197 deaths in June that year.
Lockdown eased
The government has decided to ease all lockdown restrictions in the country for eight days ahead of Eid ul Azha.
In a notification on Tuesday morning, the cabinet division said that the lockdown restrictions will be lifted from July 14 midnight to the morning of July 23.
However, strict restrictions will resume from July 23 and will continue till August 5, as per the order.
Earlier on Monday, it was reported that Bangladesh Railway is going to restore its passenger train services for eight days from July 15-22 across the country, keeping 50% of the seats empty apparently to facilitate the movement of people during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.
Public transport services and business institutions will also be allowed to function.
Eid-ul-Azha will be celebrated on July 21 amid the Delta variant of Covid-19 wreaking havoc across the country, shattering records every day.
A record rise in the number of Covid cases and fatalities in recent days prompted the government to enforce a nationwide stringent lockdown suspending all outdoor activities unless there is an emergency.
Source: United News of Bangladesh