Deaths until 19 December 82% of November

Over 19 days in December, 598 people have died of the novel coronavirus in the country, which is 82% of the total deaths in November.

At the same time, 34,628 people have tested positive for Covid-19 so far in December, up 66% from the previous month.

In November, 52,248 people were diagnosed with Covid-19 and 721 died of the virus.

The first Covid-19 patient was identified in the country on 8 March and the first patient died on 18 March.

Experts concerned say novel coronavirus infections have been on the rise in the country. Now the detection rate has decreased a bit but it can increase again at any time.

Dr M Mushtuq Hussain, Covid-19 pandemic control consultant at the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research, told The Business Standard, "In most of the cases deaths occur three weeks after the detection of the virus in the patients. Three weeks ago, the detection rate was higher in the country, so now the death rate is higher."

"People do not want to get tested. Patients are going to the hospital in critical condition so deaths are not going to decline," he added.

Dr M Mushtuq Husain said, "People are now wearing masks due to widespread awareness and fines having been introduced for not wearing them. We are reaping the benefits and the detection rate is declining. However, if the intensity of winter increases and picnics, weddings and other events are on the rise, the infection rate may increase again."

In addition to the RTPCR lab, the government has introduced gene experts and antigen tests. Antigen test labs have been increased from 10 to 29.

According to the Department of Health, the novel coronavirus is now being tested for in 160 labs across the country. However, even though the number of testing facilities has increased, the test rate is not increasing. In June-July, when there were 49 testing labs, an average of 16,000 tests were done a day. Now the number of tests in 160 labs is fluctuating between 12,000-14,000.

In the last 24 hours – until 8am on Saturday – 12,300 samples were tested in 160 labs.

M Mushtuq Husain said now the chances of testing have increased a lot but people are not testing. Despite exhibiting the symptoms of Covid-19, people are staying at home without testing, not even going into isolation. As a result, family members are also being affected. People now need to be motivated to take the Covid-19 test.

Covid-19 cases nearing 5 lakh mark

Bangladesh recorded 25 more deaths from the novel coronavirus during the last 24 hours, till 8am Saturday.

The country's death toll from the lethal virus now stands at 7,242 with a death rate of 1.45%, read a press statement issued by the Directorate General of Health Services.

A total of 1,267 new infections were recorded in the last 24 hours, taking the number of total infected people to 4,99,560.

Out of total tests, the positivity rate was 10.30% on the latest day.

In the last 24 hours, 1,987 patients were declared free of Covid-19, taking the total number of recoveries to 4,35,601.

The total recovery rate in the country now stands at 87.20%.