Covid-19 positivity rate crosses 10% again, 40 new deaths

After a positivity rate below 10% since 15 May, the infection trajectory took an upward trend again with 10.08% infections recorded in the last 24 hours till Tuesday 8am.

On Tuesday, 1,675 new cases were logged after testing 16,624 samples across the country, according to a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Meanwhile, the daily death toll also increased to 40 after fluctuating between 20 and 40 for the last two weeks. 

With the latest figures, the number of total fatalities reached 12,441 and the case count stands at 792,196 in the country. The fatality rate stands at 1.57%.

Among the latest day's victims, 26 were men, and 14 were women. Of the victims, 38 died in different hospitals across the country while two at home.

Bangladesh starts administering Sinopharm vaccine

Bangladesh has started the experimental administering of the Chinese Covid-19 vaccine as a part of the inoculation programme in the country.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque inaugurated the vaccination programme at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on Tuesday.

Highlighting the importance of vaccinating medical students, the health minister said, "5th-year medical students are being vaccinated in the first stage as they are working with Covid-19 patients and will continue to do so."

He said initiatives had been taken to vaccinate the students on a priority basis considering their health risks. 

"Students of other government medical colleges will also be vaccinated in phases alongside Dhaka Medical College students," the minister added.

A total of 156 medical students received the vaccine at DMCH on Tuesday. 

Of them, six 5th-year students of Dhaka Medical College received the first vaccine dose, in the presence of the health minister.

Vaccine production in the country

Mentioning that Bangladesh will begin vaccine production, the health minister further said, "The prime minister has given instructions for vaccine production in the country and talks are underway with all parties." 

He added that soon vaccines will be produced in the country just like medicines. Exports of vaccines will also be possible in future after meeting the country's demand.

The minister further said negotiations with China and Russia on vaccine imports had reached a final stage. At the same time, talks with the United States and the United Kingdom have progressed. 

"We are hoping that there will be no problem in acquiring vaccines in the future," he said.