Covid-19 infection rate highest in 78 days

Bangladesh has recorded 1,847 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours till Saturday 8am with an infection rate of 14. 61%, which is the highest rate in the last 78 days.

Another 28 people died from the novel coronavirus in the 24-hour period. The previous highest single day infection rate – standing at 15.18% – was reported on 5 September.

Speaking with The Business Standard, noted virologist and former vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Prof Nazrul Islam said, "Looking at the rate of infection, it seems that a mild second wave is about to start in the country soon."

According to a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the number of Covid-19 cases in Bangladesh now stands at 4,45,281 and the death rate stands at 6,350.

The latest day's infection rate was 14.61% of the total tests, though the overall rate in the country till date was 16.90%. The death rate stands at 1.43%.

Among the latest day's victims, 18 were male and 10 were female. All the deceased died in hospitals across the country.

Moreover, 16 of them hailed from Dhaka, three each from Chattogram and Rajshahi, two each from Khulna and Barishal, and one each from the Sylhet and Rangpur divisions. In the 24-hour period, 12,643 samples were tested in 117 labs across the country.

A total of 26,35,202 samples have been tested in Bangladesh so far. Additionally, 1,921 patients have been declared free of Covid-19 during the same period, raising the total number of recoveries to 3,60,352 with an 80.81% recovery rate.

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