Covid detection hits 115% within a week

The number of Covid-19 infections in the country has risen by 115 per cent over the last one week compared to that a week ago, while three people died of coronavirus and 1,491 got infected in the last 24 hours till Sunday.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has revealed this information in a regular press briefing on Sunday.

“In the last one week till Saturday, 6,300 new Covid-19 patients have been identified across the country. This number is 3,038 more than that in the previous week,” said DGHS Director Prof Nazmul Islam.

“The number of identified patients has risen by 115 per cent in one week,” he added.

“Last week, 23 people died of Covid-19. This is 15 per cent more than the previous week.”

Nazmul said in the last few days the number of infections and death is on the rise. Even at the end of December, the detection rate was below 2 per cent; however, it reached close to 6 per cent on Saturday.

From Friday 8am to Saturday 8am, there were 1,116 people infected with the coronavirus. In contrast to the sample test, the patient identification rate stood at 5.79 per cent.

“If we look at the picture of last 30 days, we can see an upward trend of infection. The situation around the world is getting worse day by day. The number of people infected with Omicron variant is increasing in Europe,” explained the health official.

“Many of those infected by the new strain of coronavirus looked perfectly healthy. If everyone calls in doctor in time, it will be possible to cure the disease quickly.”

He said 118 hospitals in the country have central oxygen supply system. The total number of beds in Covid Hospital in Dhaka is 4,616. Of these, 4,179 are vacant. Professor Nazmul emphasised the importance of raising public awareness, using masks and adhering to hygiene rules to curb the infection rate.

“We have to keep in mind that mask is mine that gives protection to everyone,” he added.

Meanwhile, the country recorded three new Covid-related deaths and 1,491 infections in the last 24 hours till 8am on Sunday. 

During this period, the positivity rate went up to 6.78 per cent from earlier 5.79 per cent. The daily positivity rate reached highest 32.55 per cent on July 24 this year.

The overall caseload now stands at 15,93,700 and the number of total fatalities 28,102, according to the press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services.

The latest figure comes following the tests of 21,980 samples at 852 laboratories across the country.

Bangladesh has so far tested 1,16,71,795 samples.

Meanwhile, 217 patients recovered from Covid-19 in the last 24-hours, raising the overall number of recovery to 15,50,905.

Dhaka division logged the highest number of death, with the latest two fatalities followed Chattogram with one more death. 

Bangladesh identified its first case of coronavirus on March 8, 2020, and the first Covid-related death was reported on March 18 the same year.

The global Covid-19 caseload reached 3,05,259,980 and death toll 5,485,789 till Sunday morning, according to an update of Johns Hopkins University in US.