Global Covid cases top 429 million, deaths 5.9 m

Travel remains severely restricted due to the Covid-19 pandemic

Dhaka, Feb 24 -- The overall number of Covid cases has surged past 429 million as Omicron infections keep rising across the globe. 

According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 429,383,996 while the death toll from the virus reached 5,916,311 Thursday morning. 

The US has recorded 78,730,893 cases so far and 941,866 people have died from the virus in the country, the university data shows. 

India's Covid-19 tally rose to 42,867,031 on Wednesday, as 15,102 new cases were registered in 24 hours across the country, as per the federal health ministry's data. 

Besides, 278 deaths due to the pandemic since Tuesday morning took the total death toll to 512,622. 

Meanwhile, Brazil, which has been experiencing a new wave of cases since January last year, registered 28,493,336 cases as of Wednesday, while its Covid death toll rose to 646,714. 

Situation in Bangladesh 

Bangladesh logged five more Covid-linked deaths with 1,298 fresh cases in 24 hours till Wednesday morning as the positivity rate and the number of deaths continue to decline.

The daily positivity rate further declined to 5.58% from Tuesday’s 6.77% after testing 23,092 samples during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). 

On Tuesday, Bangladesh reported 16 more Covid-linked deaths with 1,595 fresh cases. 

The fresh numbers took the country’s total fatalities to 28,995 while the caseload mounted to 19,38,135. 

Meanwhile, the mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.50%. 

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

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 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. - UNB