Bangladesh records highest single day Covid death toll

Dhaka: COVID 19 pandemic continued to claim an ever larger number of lives in Bangladesh as Thursday recorded a new high in deaths in one day. 

According to the latest bulletin issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 264 people died and 12,744 new corona positive cases were reported in the country over the last 24 hours on Thursday. The death toll surpassed the earlier record of 258 deaths reported on 27 July. However,  the sample positivity rate declined to 27.12 percent from 28.54 percent on Wednesday.

The Delta variant has been found to be the dominant strain in cases found in the country. In a study conducted by the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSSMU) it was found that 98 percent of the COVID 19 patients in Bangladesh were infected by the Delta



variant. 

While the government of Bangladesh continues its effort to procure COVID 19 vaccines from multiple sources, Foreign Minister Dr. A K Abdul Momen said that the government will purchase 75 million doses of Chinese Sinopharm COVID vaccine for the country. 

In the meanwhile, the mass vaccination programme for 10 million people  within a week starting August 7 has been changed due  to logistical and manpower issues. Now the mass vaccination across the country will take place on just one day on Saturday.

The government also announced the details of the extended period of COVID 19 restrictions between Aug 5-10. During this period, industries and factories will be open and domestic flights will be operated with health guidelines in place from Friday.