Consecutive days of over 1k new cases

The number of infections and fatalities due to novel coronavirus continues to surge with 1,041 new cases and 14 deaths reported yesterday.

With it, the total number of detected Covid-19 cases in the country reached 18,863 while the death toll hit 283, Prof Dr Nasima Sultana, additional director general at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), said at an online briefing.

She also said 7,392 samples were tested in 41 coronavirus testing laboratories across the country in 24 hours till 2:30pm yesterday.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said the daily test numbers would be increased to 15,000, reports UNB.

"The number of corona sample tests has multiplied in the last one month. As a result, we are now able to identify more infected people. The more infected people are identified, the less will be the chances of new infections.

"The number of daily tests will be increased to 10,000 soon and then to 15,000. The government has enough kits in stock."

He came up with the statement while speaking as chief guest at a reception organised marking the appointment of 5,000 nurses at the conference room of Directorate General of Nursing and Midwifery in the capital's Agargaon.

At the online briefing, Prof Nasima said of the newly detected coronavirus patients, 854 were in Dhaka and 287 elsewhere.

She said the country was passing the 10th week since the first case was reported on March 8.  

"We're going through the 10th week when 7,093 new cases have been reported and 1,189 patients recovered. Sixty-nine deaths have been recorded till May 14," she said.

Among the latest deceased, two were aged between 71 and 80, five between 51 and 60, five between 41 and 50, one was between 31 and 40 and another between 21 and 30.

As of May 14, the recovery rate against the number of infections is 19.10 percent while the death rate is 1.5 percent.

Another 201 people were taken to isolation in 24 hours till 2:30pm yesterday while 3,031 were home and institutionally quarantined during the period.