Covid-19 death toll crosses 500-mark in BD

The death toll from the novel coronavirus has topped 500-mark in Bangladesh after 21 new deaths from the virus were reported in last 24 hours.

The total number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 infection in the country stood at 35,585, after 1,975 new cases of infection were detected testing 9,451 samples in 48 labs during the time.

"Among the dead patients, 16 are male and five female. Of them, 11 are from Dhaka division, nine from Chattogram and one from Rangpur. With this the number of patients, who succumbed to the virus, stood at 501," Additional Director General of Health Directorate Professor Dr Nasima Sultana made the disclosure during a virtual briefing today.

"11,541 samples were collected in last 24 hours and 9,451 were tested. So far 253,034 samples have been tested in the country," she added.

Besides, some 433 patients have recovered newly, increasing the number of total cured patients at 7,334.

According to the latest data by DGHS, 20.61% coronavirus infected patients have recovered and some 1.41% succumbed to Covid-19.

Currently, 55,405 people are quarantined across the country – including 2,182 newly-quarantined individuals. A total of 210,458 people have completed their quarantine course.

Nasima Sultana said, "The authorities placed 284 new individuals suspected of having Covid-19 into isolation, bringing the total to 4,653 after 2,258 left."

"The country is capable of accommodating 13,284 people at different isolation wards and 31,840 people at 626 institutional quarantine facilities," she added.

Moreover, there are 399 ICU facilities and 106 dialysis beds available for the treatment of coronavirus infected patients in the country.

As many as 7,661,361 hotline health services were given by 16,168 trained and 4,217 volunteer doctors via three designated numbers, including 177,969 in last 24-hour till 8am today. 

Till date, a total of 696,662 thermal screenings were conducted at different ports, including 60 at airports, 282 at seaports and 498 at land ports in the last 24 hours.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) collected by the government has been 2,454,737, of which 2,066,334 were distributed and 388,403 are left in store.

The virus has killed 346,876 people globally and infected 5,513,975 so far.