Advisers to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted on Friday (Sept 17) to recommend Covid-19 vaccine booster shots for Americans 65 and older and those at high risk of severe illness, after overwhelmingly rejecting a call for broader approval.

Although the death toll dropped, the total number of daily coronavirus cases and infection rate increased yesterday.

At least 163 patients were hospitalised in the last 24 hours till 8am yesterday, according to Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Complications have arisen regarding setting up rapid RT-PCR labs at the Dhaka airport to test outgoing passengers for Covid-19, continuing the uncertainty surrounding the return of around 30,000 expatriate workers to their workplaces in the UAE.

One hundred and sixty-three dengue patients were hospitalised in the 24 hours preceding 8:00am today. Of them, only 23 are from outside Dhaka, according to Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Thirty-eight people died from Covid-19 in 24 hours till 8am today, said a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

US medical experts will meet today to debate and vote on the controversial question of giving out booster doses of Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine to the general population.

The health directorate yesterday reported 5.98 percent Covid positivity rate, which is the lowest in more than six months.

An empty can of condensed milk, stood beside a tea cup. A spoon, a toy. A t-shirt and a mug.

Dengue cases crossed the 15,000-mark for the first time this year today and 234 patients were hospitalised in 24 hours till 8:00am today, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Fifty-one people died from Covid-19 in 24 hours till 8am today, said a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he would have to spend "a few days" in self-isolation after dozens of people in his entourage fell ill with COVID-19, the TASS news agency reported.

Some residents of Jurain area of Dhaka today put up an exhibition -- in front of the Kodom Fountain near Supreme Court area -- of personal belongings of people who died from dengue.

New data from Moderna Inc's large Covid-19 vaccine trial shows that the protection it offers wanes over time, supporting the case for booster doses, the company said in a news release on Wednesday.

Expressing optimism about collecting Covid-19 vaccine jabs, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has said Bangladesh is on track to get 24 crore shots either by March or April next year.

Though the spread of dengue outside Dhaka started comparatively late, the growing number of cases shows that the situation may soon take a turn for the worse if necessary measures are not taken immediately to curb further spread, said experts and entomologists.

The declining trend of coronavirus transmission may be harder to maintain if health guidelines are not properly followed, said health directorate officials.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday in parliament said efforts were underway to vaccinate students aged 12 and above as she spoke about a government plan to gradually inoculate 80 percent of the country’s population against Covid-19. 

At least 307 dengue patients were hospitalised in the last 24 hours till 8am yesterday.

The government yesterday gave permission to seven healthcare facilities to set up RT-PCR laboratories at the capital’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to run Covid-19 tests on outbound passengers.