Bangladesh recorded 7,087 fresh Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours until Sunday morning which is the highest number of infections since the pandemic began.

Besides, the coronavirus fatalities rose to 9,266 with 53 new deaths during the period. The mortality rate fell to 1.45 on Sunday from Saturday’s 1.46 percent.

Also read: Covid-19 vaccine not a 'silver bullet': WHO

Coronavirus claimed 568 lives in January this year, 281 in February and 638 in March.

The health authorities recorded over 5000 Covid cases on March 29, 30 and 31 and April 3 while over 6000 cases on April 1 and 2 showing an alarming rise in infections.

The infection rate slightly fell to 23.07 percent from 23.15 percent on Saturday.

Bangladesh has so far recorded 637,364 coronavirus cases, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

The number of daily cases and infection rate dropped below 5 percent earlier this year but then infections continue to rise again amid people’s reluctance to maintain health safety rules.

Hospitals are struggling to provide treatment to the increasing number of coronavirus patients with their limited resources. The government is increasing the number of beds and Covid-designated hospitals to deal with the situation.

During the 24-hour period until Sunday morning, 2,707 patients recovered, taking the number of recoveries to 552,482.

Bangladesh reported its first cases on March 8 last year and confirmed the first death from the virus 10 days later.

The country has so far tested 4,783,385 samples, including 30,724 in the last 24 hours, the DGHS said.

Among the latest victims, 37 died in Dhaka division, 9 in Chattogram, One in Rajshahi, three each in Rangpur and Mymensingh.

Also read: No risk of contracting Covid-19 due to vaccination: DGHS

So far, 5,304 coronavirus patients died in Dhaka division, 1,673 in Chattogram, 509 in Rajshahi, 592 in Khulna, 276 in Barishal, 327 in Sylhet, 380 in Rangpur and 205 in Mymensingh divisions.

So far 6,970 men (75.22) and 2,296 women (24.78) died of Covid-19.

Countrywide lockdown imposed

In an effort to prevent the transmission of Coronavirus and improve the current situation, the government has issued a gazette imposing restrictions on the movement of people and other activities for seven days from Monday.

The Cabinet Division issued the gazette on Sunday which will remain in force from 6 am on April 5 till 12 am on April 11. 

Also read: Govt issues gazette restricting people’s movement, other activities for 7 days

According to the gazette , all modes of public transport (road, river, rail and domestic flights) will remain suspended during the period.

Emergency services, carrying of goods, production, overseas passengers and returnees will remain out of the purview of the restriction.

The offices, staffers and vehicles of the organizations providing emergency services including law enforcement, relief distribution, health services, power, water, gas, fire services, port activities, telephone, and postal services will remain out of the purview of the restriction.

All government offices, non-government, autonomous, private offices and court will be allowed to carry limited number of employees with their own transports  to perform emergency duties.

Also read: Bangladesh to receive 20 lakh Covid-19 vaccines from India ...

Industries and factories will remain open and the ongoing construction works will continue.

Vaccination drive

The government launched a countrywide vaccination campaign on February 7 with doses received from the Serum Institute of India.

Bangladesh inked an agreement with Serum in December last year for 30 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. Serum is supposed to supply the doses between January and June this year – 5 million each month.

Global situation

More than 130.6 million people have been infected with Covid-19 with 2.8 million fatalities on Sunday, according to data compiled by johns Hopkins University (JHU). 

Also read: Global Covid cases hit 130.6 million

The total case count reached 130,659, 436 while the death tally mounted to 2, 845,012 as of Sunday morning, showed the university data.