Global Covid cases surpass 390 million, deaths 5.7 m

Covid-19 - A healthcare worker prepares a COVID-19 vaccine at a hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia. Unicef

Dhaka, Feb 5 -- The overall number of Covid cases has surpassed 390 million as Omicron infections keep rising across the globe.

According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 390,541923 while the death toll from the virus reached 5,724,286 Saturday morning.

The US has recorded 76,344,963 cases so far and 901,288 people have died from the virus in the country, the university data shows. 

Russia has confirmed another highest daily of 168,201 new Covid-19 cases over the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 12,452,765, the official monitoring and response centre said on Friday

The nationwide death toll increased by 682 to 334,039, while the number of recoveries increased by 10,337,008 to 10,390,732 

India's Covid-19 tally rose to 41,078,653 Friday, as 125,941 new cases were registered in 24 hours across the country, the federal health ministry's latest data showed. 

Besides, 1,056 deaths from the pandemic since Thursday morning took the total death toll to 501,143

Situation in Bangladesh 

Bangladesh reported 30 more Covid-linked deaths with 9,052 fresh cases in 24 hours till Friday morning. 

The daily positivity rate further dropped to 22.95 percent from Thursday’s 25.86 per after testing 39,445 samples during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). 

On Thursday, Bangladesh reported 33 Covid-linked deaths with 11,596 fresh cases. 

The fresh numbers took the country’s total fatalities to 28,494 while the caseload mounted to 1,835,776. 

Among the new deceased, 19 were men and 11 women. 

Seventeen deaths were reported in Dhaka division while five in Chattogram, three in Sylhet, two in each Rajshahi and Khulna, and one in Barishal divisions. 

Meanwhile, the mortality rate remained the same as 1.55 per cent. 

However, the recovery rate also declined to 86.04 per cent with the recovery of 6,282 more patients during the 24-hour period. 

In January, the country reported 322 Covid-linked deaths and 2,13,294 new cases while 19,112 recovered from the disease, according to the DGHS. 

On January 28, Bangladesh logged its earlier highest daily positivity rate at 33.37% reporting 15,440 cases and 20 deaths. 

Bangladesh’s total tally of Omicron cases reached 69 with the detection of five more cases till January 23, according to GISAID, a global initiative on sharing all influenza data. 

On December 9 last year, Bangladesh again logged zero Covid-related death after nearly three weeks as the pandemic was apparently showing signs of easing. 

The country reported this year’s first zero Covid-related death in a single day on November 20 last year along with 178 infections since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh in March 2020. 

Besides, the country registered the highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year, while the highest number of daily fatalities was 264 on August 10 last year. 

Extension of restrictions 

The government has extended the period of the  existing restrictions on people’s movement and other activities until February 21 and imposed two new ones considering the worsening Covid-19 situation in the country. 

These restrictions will remain in force from February 7 to 21, said a notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Thursday. 

The new restrictions are- gathering of more than 100 people in social, political, religious or state events will not be allowed in open places or indoors and  those who will attend the events must bring Covid Vaccination Certificate or report of RT PCR test underwent within 24 hours. 

Besides, in-person classes of schools, colleges and equivalent educational institutions will remain suspended during this period, said the notification.

Amid the growing concern over the Coronavirus’ new Omicron variant, the government on January 13 imposed 11-point restrictions. - UNB