Bangladesh reports 1,988 new Covid-19 cases
The Covid-19 fatalities has declined slightly as 34 more people died in a day
Bangladesh on Wednesday saw the highest number of daily Covid-19 cases in 33-days as the country registered 1,988 new patients in the last 24 hours till Wednesday 8am.
On 30 April, Bangladesh had recorded 2,177 new Covid-19 patients.
Meanwhile, the daily Covid-19 fatalities has declined slightly as 34 more people died in a day.
With yesterday's figures, the Covid-19 death toll in the country reached 12,694 and the caseload stood at 8,04,293, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The positivity rate was 9.81% and the death rate was 1.58% in the preceding 24 hours.
During that period, 20,259 samples were tested in 503 labs across the country.
Besides, 1,914 patients were declared free of Covid-19, with a 92.51% recovery rate during the last 24 hours.
The country's first Covid-19 cases were reported on 8 March last year and the first death from the virus was reported on 18 March.
Pfizer vaccine: Inoculation to begin in 7-10 days
DGHS Spokesperson Professor Nazmul Islam yesterday said the administration of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine will begin within the next seven to ten days.
"A particular diluter is necessary to activate the vaccine and it is expected to arrive in the country on 7 June from the Covax facility of the World Health Organisation (WHO)," said Nazmul Islam at the DGHS Covid-19 bulletin on Wednesday.
"The authorities concerned are working to decide on the recipients and where the vaccination will take place as the number of shots is very limited," he said, adding, "Those who have registered earlier will be prioritised."
The Pfizer vaccine is a special type of vaccine that needs to be stored at minus 90 degrees Celsius temperature.
Therefore, according to the spokesperson, the vaccination centres will be decided based on their distance from the places where the vaccines are stored and availability of experienced manpower.
Earlier, on 31 May this year, a consignment of 1,00,620 doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine reached Dhaka via the international vaccine alliance Gavi under its worldwide vaccination initiative Covax.
On 27 May, the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) approved the Pfizer mRNA Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use in Bangladesh, removing all legal barriers to the import and use of this vaccine.
