The number of Covid-19 infections recorded worldwide passed 200 million yesterday, an AFP count showed, as Germany, France and Israel said they will go ahead with plans to administer vaccine boosters, disregarding an appeal by the World Health Organisation to hold off until more people are vaccinated around the world. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday said China will strive to provide 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to other countries in 2021, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

Germany, France and Israel will go ahead with plans to administer COVID-19 vaccine boosters, disregarding an appeal by the World Health Organisation to hold off until more people are vaccinated around the world.

Moderna said Thursday that protection from its Covid-19 vaccine remained strong for at least six months, and the variant-specific boosters shot it is testing generated a "robust" antibody response to Delta.

Thirty ambulances from India, which have been gifted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are on their way to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh will receive another consignment of 34 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine next week, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said today.

Civil society groups and private sector leaders from home and abroad have called for lifting the restrictions set in the WTO’s Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights and declaring Covid-19 vaccine as public good to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

At least 218 people with dengue fever were admitted to hospitals in the country in 24 hours till 8am today. Of them, only 10 are from outside Dhaka.

Two hundred and sixty-four people died from Covid-19 in 24 hours till 8am today, said a press release of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

A 10-year-old boy died of dengue at Dhaka’s Square Hospital early today.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on his Instagram account on Thursday that it was likely that the elderly and vulnerable would need a third Covid-19 vaccine shot, and that France was working on rolling these out from September onwards.

Around 98 percent Covid patients of the country have been infected with the highly transmissible Delta variant, according to a report of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).

Two staff nurses were withdrawn from the vaccination centre of Pabna General Hospital this morning, for allegedly pushing an empty syringe in the arm of a medical student yesterday.

Nine people died of Covid-19 and two with Covid-like symptoms in Kushtia in 24 hours till 8am today.

Cabinet Division today issued a circular, extending the ongoing restrictions on public and transport movement till August 10, considering the current Covid-19 pandemic situation.

Barishal Division recorded 32 deaths from Covid-19 and its symptoms in 24 hours till this morning, which is the highest single-day toll in the division.

Seventeen people – nine male and eight female -- died at the Covid unit of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) in 24 hours till 8am today.

The White House said on Wednesday it is prepared to provide Covid-19 booster shots, if needed, suggesting it would not heed a call by the World Health Organization to delay providing additional vaccinations.

Former finance minister Abul MaalAbdul Muhith’s health condition improved yesterday, his younger brother Foreign Minister said.

A special Covid-19 mass inoculation drive, mainly aimed at vaccinating rural people at the union level, has suffered a major setback just days before it was scheduled to begin on Saturday.