Bangladesh sees record daily spike of 209 coronavirus cases, 7 deaths

Bangladesh today confirmed seven more deaths from the novel coronavirus and 209 new cases of infection in the country.

Some 1,905 samples were tested for coronavirus in last 24 hours. 

With this, the death toll rises to 46 from the virus and a total of 1,012 people are infected so far. 182 new cases of infection were found as of Monday after 1,570 tests.

"Some 1,804 samples were collected in last 24 hours and tested 1,905 samples, so far total 13, 128 samples were tested," Additional Director General of Health Directorate Nasima Sultana said during a virtual press briefing today.

"We have decided to expand the facility of PCR testing to nine new medical institutes, along with the existing 17 across the country," she added.

"Chittagong Medical College (CMC), Comilla Medical College, Faridpur Medical College (FMC), Kushtia Medical College, Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College & Hospital (SZMCH) and M Abdur Rahim Medical College (MARMC) are the six medical institutes that will be providing PCR testing facility outside Dhaka," said Nasima Sultana adding, "Whereas in Dhaka, three institutes - Sir Salimullah Medical College (SSMC), Mugda Medical College and Sheikh Russel Gastro Liver Institute & Hospital - are preparing to be added to the list. All will be effective within next 7-10 days." 

She further said, "In last 24-hour, the number of PPEs collected are 1,51,940 and distributed are 94,800 while 5,15,122 are still in stock."

"89 people were taken to isolation and five left in a period of time from - 8am on Monday to 8am today- making the total to 382 in isolation after 4,042 left thus far. The total isolation beds in the country are 7,693, among which 1,550 are in Dhaka and 6,143 in other parts of the country," she added.

Professor Nasima further said, "Currently, 488 institutions in all 64 districts of the country are providing institutional quarantine facilities which are ready to accommodate 26,352 patients. As per the latest quarantine data of the country, 26,752 are in home quarantine and 2,132 are in institutional quarantine after a total of 1,039 left quarantine in last 24-hour."

Designated coronavirus hotline numbers received a total of 92,323 calls in last 24 hours and a total of 23,24,462 calls were received till date.

The virus, which is believed to have started spreading from China, has already killed 119,818 people and infected 1,924,878 around the world, according to data of Johns Hopkins University.