Slight fall in daily Covid deaths
69 new deaths from Covid-19 were reported in the last 24 hours till Tuesday 8am
After three consecutive days of record-breaking Covid-19 death toll, Bangladesh witnessed a slight drop in the number of fresh fatalities with 69 new deaths reported in the last 24 hours till Tuesday 8am.
The decrease in the number of daily deaths came a day before the country entered a week-long "strict lockdown" – from today till 21 April.
With the new fatalities, the death toll from novel coronavirus in the country now stands at 9,891 with a fatality rate of 1.42%.
Bangladesh on Monday logged a record 83 deaths from Covid-19, which is the highest since the pandemic hit the country last year. The number was 78 on Sunday, the second-highest fatalities from the virus to date.
Meanwhile, the number of new cases went up by 6,028 in the last 24 hours, taking the case count to 6,979,85 in the country, with a daily infection rate of 18.29%.
Experts are stressing the need to get people vaccinated, and maintaining strict hygiene rules.
Prof Samir Kumar Saha, head of the Department of Microbiology at Dhaka Shishu Hospital and executive director of Child Health Research Foundation told the Business Standard, "In order to control the infection, everyone must strictly follow the hygiene rules and wear a mask. Otherwise, the situation will worsen.
"One must not refrain from wearing masks with excuses like it makes them feel suffocated and hot. It is definitely easier to wear a mask than to have shortness of breath after contracting Covid-19. Everyone should wear a mask and whoever has the opportunity should get vaccinated."
Among the latest day's victims, 43 were men and 26 were women. Of them, 63 died in different hospitals across the country, while five breathed their last at home. In addition, one more died while being taken to hospital.
Besides, 41 of them hailed from Dhaka, 13 from Chattogram, each three from Rajshahi, Barishal, Khulna and Rangpur, two from Sylhet, and one from Mymenshing division.
A total of 4,853 patients were declared free of Covid-19 during the last 24 hours, with an 83.95% recovery rate.
Besides, 32955 samples were tested in the last 24 hours in 255 labs across the country.
The Covid-19 victims' gender breakdown shows that 7,376 of the total deceased were men and 2,515 were women.
The country's maiden cases were reported on 8 March last year and the first death from the virus was reported on 18 March that year.
All healthcare institutions to remain open
The Health Services Division (HSD) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a directive on Tuesday stating that all departments, offices, institutions, and hospitals operating under the division will remain open as usual during the newly imposed strict lockdown.
Mohammad Iqbal Hossain, deputy secretary, HSD, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued the directive on Tuesday afternoon.
During this period, the officers and employees of all the departments, offices, and institutions under HSD must be present at their respective workplaces and perform their duties in accordance with the health rules, the directive stated.