Bangladesh reports 21 deaths as infection rate reaches highest ever

Bangladesh recorded 21 more deaths with infection rate marching up, reaching the highest of 21.56 percent in the period of 24-hour.

The Health Directorate reported 1,166 new cases of virus infection, testing 5,407 samples during the time in the country. Earlier on Monday, DGHS said 1,975 new cases of infection were detected testing 9,451 samples. 

With this, the death toll from the deadly virus rose to 522 and the number of total infections stood at 36,751.

"Among the dead patients, 14 are male and seven female. Of them 15 are from Dhaka division, four from Chattogram and two from Barishal," Additional Director General of Health Directorate Professor Dr Nasima Sultana made the disclosure during a virtual briefing today.

Dr Nasima further said, "20 of the victims died at hospitals and one at home."

"4,416 samples were collected during last 24 hours and 5,407 were tested. A total of 258,441 samples have been tested so far," she added.

Some 245 patients have recovered from the virus during this time, increasing the total cured patients to 7,579.

Currently, 55,989 people are quarantined across the country – including 2,452 newly-quarantined individuals. A total of 212,326 people have completed their quarantine course.

Nasima Sultana said, "The authorities placed 182 new individuals suspected of having Covid-19 into isolation, bringing the total to 4,770 after 2,323 left."

"The country is capable of accommodating 13,284 people at different isolation wards and 31,840 people at 626 institutional quarantine facilities," she added.

Moreover, there are 399 ICU facilities and 106 dialysis beds available for the treatment of coronavirus infected patients in the country.

As many as 7,814,009 hotline health services were given by 16,173 trained and 4,217 volunteer doctors via three designated numbers, including 152,638 in last 24-hour till 8am today. 

Till date, a total of 697,115 thermal screenings were conducted at different ports, including 265 at airports, 28 at seaports and 160 at land ports in the last 24 hours.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) collected by the government has been 2,454,737, of which 2,066,334 were distributed and 388,403 are left in store.

The virus has killed 348,126 people globally and infected 5,601,285 so far.