Covid-19 deaths cross 3,800

Bangladesh confirmed 41 more deaths from the novel coronavirus in the last 24 hours ending at 8am Thursday. 

With this, fatalities from the virus stood at 3,822 and death rate at 1.33 percent. 

In the last 24 hours, 2,868 people tested Covid-19 positive and the infection rate was 20.40 percent. 

The total number of positive cases in the country reached 287,959 and the overall infection rate was 20.46 percent.

And 14,059 samples were tested in 91 labs across the country. So far 1,407,556 samples have been tested.

A press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Thursday revealed the latest numbers.

Among the deceased, 32 were men and nine were women. And 19 of them were from Dhaka division, eight from Chattogram, three from Khulna, four each from Rajshahi, two from Barishal, and five from Rangpur, the release said. 

The total number of recovered patients stood at 168,991 including 3,253 new ones in the last 24 hours. And the recovery rate rose to 58.69 percent.

Bangladesh confirmed the first Covid-19 cases on March 8, and first death on March 18.

Another doctor dies from Covid-19

A Covid-19 positive doctor, who was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Sylhet, died on early Thursday, says a Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) press release.

The deceased, Dr Syed Akter Hossain, was the former deputy director of the family planning department of Moulvibazar hospital and a senior member of BMA Sylhet district.

Dr Syed Akter had tested Covid-19 positive one week ago and was undergoing treatment at the hospital after that.

So far 78 doctors have died from Covid-19 in the country.

Government lowers Covid-19 testing fees

The government has cut Covid-19 testing fee amid a declining number of fresh cases in the country. 

The Health Services Division issued a circular in this regard on Thursday. 

Patients will now have to pay Tk100 instead of Tk200 for testing if they give their samples at the collection booths, reads the circular.

Testing of samples at the hospitals will also cost the same. Also, the fee will be Tk300 instead of Tk500 if samples are collected from homes, it added.

The Covid-19 testing was free for all at the state-run facilities after the deadly virus broke out in Bangladesh back in March.

On June 29, the health ministry set a fee for Covid-19 testing for the first time.