Covid-19 detection increases as testing ramps up

Bangladesh recorded 39 more deaths from the novel coronavirus in the last 24 hours till 8am on Thursday. 

After testing 17,999 samples, 3,946 new Covid-19 cases were detected in the same period. 

This is the highest number of samples tested and the second highest number of detected cases in a single day.

Earlier, on June 17, 17,527 samples were tested, from which 4,008 were confirmed as novel coronavirus cases.

17,586 samples were collected in the last 24 hours and 17,999 were tested in 66 labs across the country. 

So far 678,443 samples have been tested in the country, said Additional Director General of Health Directorate Professor Dr Nasima Sultana during a virtual briefing on Thursday.

The new figures have taken the death toll from the novel coronavirus to 1,621 and the total number of detected patients to 126,606 in Bangladesh. 

"Thirty-two of the deceased patients were men and seven were women. Of them, 10 each were from Dhaka and Chattogram, five each from Rajshahi and Khulna, four from Rangpur, three from Mymensingh and two from Barishal," said Professor Dr Nasima Sultana. 

Of these patients, two were aged between 21-30 years, one between 31-40, seven between 41-50, nine between 51-60, 12 between 61-70, seven between 71-80, and another one between 91-100.

"Twenty-eight patients died at different hospitals, and 11 died at their respective homes," Dr Nasima Sultana added.

Besides, 1,829 patients have recovered during the time, increasing the tally to 51,495.

According to the latest data by the Directorate General of Health Services, 40.67 percent novel coronavirus patients have recovered and 1.28 percent died. 

The infection rate among the tested patients was 21.92 percent on Thursday. 

Currently, 63,998 people are quarantined across the country – including 2,656 newly-quarantined individuals. A total of 285,949 people have completed their quarantine course.

Dr Nasima Sultana said, "The authorities placed 645 new individuals suspected of having Covid-19 into isolation, bringing the total to 13,429."

Nasima Sultana urged everyone to maintain social distancing and adhere to hygiene rules to avoid the risk of the novel coronavirus. 

She said, "Wearing a mask is essential. If we can't do this, coronavirus can't be prevented."