Covid-19 cases cross 13 lakh in Bangladesh
The country has logged 241 Covid-19 deaths in 24 hours till yesterday morning, taking the total death toll to 21,638
The total number of Covid-19 cases in Bangladesh has reached 13,09,910 as the country recorded 13,817 new cases in the last 24 hours till 8am Wednesday.
The country has also logged 241 Covid-19 deaths during the same period, taking the total death toll to 21,638, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Yesterday was the 11th day in a row that the country reported over 200 single-day deaths.
DGHS spokesperson Professor Dr Nazmul Islam said to reduce the number of deaths, patients should seek medical advice as soon as mild symptoms of Covid-19 appear. They should test for novel coronavirus infection at the nearest health centres. Many unexpected deaths can be prevented this way.
In the 24 hours till yesterday morning, Covid-19 positivity rate declined from 28.54% to 27.91% as the health officials tested 49,514 samples in 705 labs across the country.
Dhaka saw 93 deaths in the last 24 hours, followed by Chattogram division which recorded 68 more deaths. Chattogram has been witnessing a rise in Covid-19 deaths over the last one week.
Meanwhile, 36 people died in Khulna, 15 in Rangpur, 12 in Rajshahi, seven in Mymensingh and five each in Barishal and Sylhet divisions in the last 24 hours.
The DGHS has expressed concerns that the dengue situation could turn alarming again amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dr Nazmul Islam said, "We have seen that during the monsoon season in the last few years the dengue situation became very alarming from time to time. In 2019, we saw how the dengue affected us. In 2021, we are facing a similar situation. We think we can deal with it if we take action quickly."
Pregnant and lactating mothers not under the 7 August vaccination campaign
The Covid-19 mass vaccination campaign will start across the country from 7 August, but pregnant and lactating mothers will not be vaccinated from that day, said DGHS Director General Professor Dr ABM Khurshid Alam.
The pregnant and lactating mothers will be vaccinated after finding out which Covid-19 vaccine is more effective for them, Dr ABM Khurshid Alam told journalists yesterday.
He said, "The National Committee's recommendation on vaccinating pregnant and lactating mothers has reached the DGHS. We are working on it. The pregnant and lactating mothers will be vaccinated soon."
Dr Alam also said, "Those who do not have NIDs will be given it quickly if they apply to the NID office. The DGHS has talked to the NID office regarding the matter."
"The ICT department has been asked to resolve the issues of those who are receiving SMS late or are not getting SMS at all on their mobile phones to get vaccinated after registration," he continued.
The director general of DGHS also said the official accused of selling vaccines in Chattogram has been suspended.