Global Covid-19 cases cross 144 million

The global Covid-19 caseload has crossed the grim milestone of 144 million as the world is grappling to contain the second outbreak of Covid-19 even with mass inoculations underway.

Deaths from the virus have also topped three million, according to Johns Hopkins University.

To be specific, the total caseload reached 144,757,145 while the fatalities climbed to 3,072,309 on Friday morning.

The US is the world's worst-hit country -- the North American nation has registered 31,929,599 cases and 570,345 deaths as of Friday morning.

In Brazil, the Covid-19 death toll mounted to 383,502 and infections topped 14,167,973, as per the latest data.

A new wave of infections has been confronting the South American country, leading to a rise in hospitalisations, deaths and the collapse of a large part of the Brazilian public healthcare system.

Neighbouring country India recorded the world's second highest number of Covid-19 cases, at 16,263,695 to date. The country has so far witnessed 186,095 deaths, listing it among the worst-affected countries in the world.

Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh

Bangladesh recorded 98 coronavirus-related deaths in 24 hours till Thursday as the deadly second wave of the virus overwhelms hospitals and pushes the health sector to its limits.

The virus also infected 4,014 others during the period, the Directorate General of Health Services said in a handout.

Coronavirus deaths now stand at 10,781 with a mortality rate of 1.46 percent, according to DGHS. The daily infection rate fell to 14.63 percent from Wednesday’s 15.07 percent.

On Monday, the country broke all the previous records of Covid-19 deaths registering 112 fatalities. It saw over 100 deaths on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Bangladesh reported its first coronavirus cases on March 8 last year and the first death on the 18th of that month.

Health authorities have so far confirmed 736,074 cases. Among them, 642,449 people - 87.28 percent of all patients – have recovered.