Global Covid-19 death toll exceeds 3.38m

The global corona deaths have now surpassed 3.38 million with new strains of Covid-19 spreading faster than ever before in several nations.

As of Tuesday morning, the total global Covid-19 caseload and fatalities stand at 163,363,698 and 3,385,244, respectively. The figures have been compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

The US, the world's worst-hit country, has logged 586,350 deaths to date, as per the university data. So far, 32,994,232 people have been infected with the virus.

With nearly 25 million confirmed cases and 274,390 deaths, India’s caseload is the second highest in the world after the US.

In the past week, the number of new cases plunged by nearly 70 per cent in India’s financial capital, home to 22 million people. After a peak of 11,000 daily cases, the city is now seeing fewer than 2,000 a day, reports AP.

A well-enforced lockdown and vigilant authorities are being credited for Mumbai’s burgeoning success. Even the country's capital is seeing faint signs of improvement as infections slacken after weeks of tragedy and desperation playing out in overcrowded hospitals and crematoriums.

Brazil on Monday reported 786 more deaths from Covid-19 in 24 hours, raising the national count to 436,537, the Ministry of Health said.

According to the ministry, Brazil now has a death rate of 208 per 100,000 inhabitants.

Meanwhile, 29,916 more infections were detected, raising the nationwide tally to 15,657,391.

Situation in Bangladesh
Covid-19 claimed 32 more lives in Bangladesh in the past 24 hours till Monday morning, raising the number of fatalities to 12,181.

Besides, health authorities found 698 more people corona positive over the same period after testing 10,347 samples.

With the latest figure, the total number of positive cases in the country has now climbed to 780,857, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Second dose of vaccine to run out soon
The 2nd dose of Covid-19 vaccine will run out in seven to 10 days, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Monday.

Five lakh doses of Covid-19 vaccine, donated by the Chinese government to Bangladesh, arrived in Dhaka last Wednesday.

The vaccine will be given to those on priority basis who need it the most, said the Minister. Bangladesh will start giving the Chinese Covid-19 vaccine from May 25/26, said the Health Minister.

Vaccination drive
Bangladesh launched its vaccination drive on February 7 with Oxford-AstraZeneca doses acquired from India's Serum Institute.

The government signed an agreement with Serum for 30 million doses. But a record number of cases in India has now made the delivery of the doses uncertain.

In the past 24 hours, 10 people have received the first dose of the vaccine while 56,940 have received the second dose, said the health directorate.