Bangladesh tops 10,000 Covid-19 cases, 182 dead

Bangladesh today has crossed 10,000 cases of novel coronavirus infection making the number to stand at 10,143, including 688 new cases, after testing 6260 samples at 33 labs all over the country.

The death toll from the deadly virus rose to 182 with five new deaths reported from Covid-19.

Sample collection has increased by 21.11% compared to the previous day and 16.61% increase was reported for PCR testing, Additional Director General of Health Directorate Nasima Sultana made the disclosure during a virtual briefing today.

Some 87,694 smples were collected so far, including 6315 new samples in last 24-hours.

"Among the five new victims of Covid-19, all were reportedly male. Three from Dhaka and one each hailed from Sylhet and Mymensingh. Three of them were aged above 60."

Professor Nasima said, "147 patients has cured in last 24 hours, increasing the number of total recovered patients to 1209."

As per the previous guideline, in line with the World Health Organisation, a patient had to take a second test within 14 to 21 days after he or she had tested positive for the virus. If the test result was negative, there would be a third test within 24 hours of the second test. The patient was released from the hospital only when both the second and the third tests were negative.

However, the new guideline says the patient will be released after he or she recovers clinically and does not have fever, cough and breathing problems.

"The authorities placed 90 new individuals suspected of having Covid-19 into isolation, bringing the total to 1,636 after 1,173 left," Dr Nasima said.

"The country is capable of accommodating 3,635 people at 601 isolation wards," she added.

Currently, 41,933 people are quarantined across the country – including 2,742 newly-quarantined individuals. A total of 153,401 people have completed their time under quarantine.

As many as 3,975,436 hotline services were given by 15,588 trained doctors via three designated numbers, including 69,824 in last 24-hour till 8am today. Through mobile phone and websites, 1,675,826 services were provided, including 18,554 new services, added Nasima..

Till date, a total of 678,853 thermal screenings were conducted at different ports, including 362 at airports, 118 at seaports and 93 at land ports in the last 24 hours.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) collected by the government has been 1,889,362 by far, of which 1,490,193 were distributed and 399,169 are left in store.

According to the data analysis as of May 3, around 68% of the infected patients are male and 32% female. However, men died 73%, while women died 27% of the total deaths reported.

The highest number of cases reported among the people who were aged sixty and above. Next in line are age groups respectively: 51-60 aged 27%, 41-50 aged 19% and 31-40 aged 7%, 21-3- aged 3% and 2% are below the age of 10.

So far, Dhaka division has the highest number of Covid-19 patients, followed by Chattogram and Mymensingh divisions.

Division wise infection analysis shows, Dhaka city and then Narayanganj are leading among the districts under Dhaka division. Cumilla under Chattogram division, Jashore under Khulna division, Joypurhat under Rajshahi division, Habiganj under Sylhet division, and three districts- Rangpur, Mymensingh and Barisal- under their respective divisions.

Globally, the death toll from Covid-19 has reached 248,445, as the total number of coronavirus infection stands at 3,579,454.