The first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine has been given to 64 percent of students between the age 12 and 18, Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, deputy minister for education, told parliament yesterday.

The coronavirus transmission is galloping at such an “alarming” rate that there will be no space left in the hospitals in the next one to one-and-a-half months for Covid-19 patients, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque yesterday.

Md Nazrul Islam Babu, lawmaker from the Narayanganj-2 constituency, has tested positive for the coronavirus.

Pfizer will add a production facility for its antiviral Covid-19 pill in France as part of a plan to invest 520 million euros ($594 million) in the country over the next five years, the US drugmaker said on Monday.

Deputy Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury today told the parliament that 64 percent of the country’s students -- aged 12-18 -- have been given the first jab of Covid-19 vaccine.

Two dengue patients were hospitalised in 24 hours till 8 am today, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

At least 6,676 new infections were recorded and 10 people died from Covid-19 in 24 hours till 8:00 am today, said a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Terming the rise in Omicron infections “alarming”, Health Minister Zahid Maleque today said if this upward trend continues, there will be no space left in the hospitals for patients.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed to lower the minimum age to 50 for Covid-19 vaccine booster dose.

Just because the Omicron variant of Covid-19 is milder and less deadly does not mean people should try to contract the coronavirus to supposedly achieve herd immunity or refuse the vaccine, said Malaysian Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

Twenty-two more cases of Omicron variant of the Covid-19 have been detected in Bangladesh, taking the total tally to 55 till yesterday, according to GISAID, the global database for genomic data on the coronavirus.

The third wave of Covid-19 cases is rising at a faster rate than in the previous two waves, shows official data -- raising the stakes for the public to strictly follow the health guidelines.

Hundreds of senior citizens suffered due to the mismanagement in administering Covid-19 booster shots at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease Institute and Hospital in Dhaka yesterday.

The Covax scheme aimed at equitable global access to Covid-19 vaccines hit a “key milestone” Saturday when it delivered its one billionth dose, one of its key backers said.

Covid-19 positivity rate reached 28 percent from 12.29 percent in Chattogram yesterday, doubling in only 24 hours.

At least new two dengue patients, both from Dhaka were hospitalised in 24 hours till 8:00 am today, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

World Bank’s Global Education Director Jaime Saavedra has said there is no justification now for keeping schools closed in view of the Covid-19 pandemic and even if there are new waves.

At least 5,222 new infections were recorded and eight people died from Covid-19 in 24 hours till 8:00 am today, said a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Thailand has reported its first death from the highly contagious Omicron coronavirus variant, a health official said.

Scientists at Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development at Baylor College of Medicine in the US, led by Dr Peter Hotez and Dr Maria Bottazzi, are working to develop a new Covid-19 vaccine that they say will be patent-free and cheaper to produce, reports The Guardian.