Covid-19 in Bangladesh: Highest cases recorded in single day

The country yesterday recorded 139 confirmed cases of Covid-19 -- the highest in a single day since the first case was reported more than a month ago -- with four deaths due to the disease.

The total number of infected patients rose to 621 while the death toll reached 34.

The figures showed a falling trend with 94 and 58 confirmed cases respectively in the previous two days after the authorities had reported 112 cases on Thursday.

In the 24 hours till 2:30pm yesterday, 16 labs across the country tested samples of 1340 individuals, Prof Meerjady Sabrina Flora, director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) said in a bulletin.

Of the four deceased, two were aged between 30-40 years, one was above 70 while the other was above 60, she said.

Three more recovered from coronavirus infection in the last 24 hours, she said.

New cases were found in four districts -- Laxmipur, Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon and Jhalakathi.

"Analysing the history of patients in these districts, we have found that most of them had travelled either Dhaka or Narayanganj within the last week," Sabrina said.

Dhaka has the maximum number of positive cases with 50 percent of the patients while Narayanganj stands next to it.

Prof Sanya Tahmina, additional director general of the Directorate General of Health Services said the government has intensified its efforts in tackling the virus outbreak.

Nearly seven lakh of personal protective equipment were brought in the country and about 4.68 lakh were already distributed among the hospitals, she said.

The government has decided to expand coronavirus testing facilities, Sania added.