ZCZC
BSS-25
COVID-19-BRIEFING LEAD
Bangladesh reports 18 deaths, 3,554 fresh cases from COVID-19
(updates with more information)
DHAKA, March 23, 2021 (BSS) – Bangladesh recorded 18 novel coronavirus
(COVID-19) deaths and 3,554 fresh cases overnight, a press release of the
Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said today.
During the late winter season, infection rate started decreasing sharply
as the country reported 2.30 percent coronavirus positive cases on February 8
this year while the figure has surged significantly at recent times.
Of the total sample tests in the past 24 hours, 13.69 percent tested
positive, while 12.94 percent cases were detected from the total tests
conducted so far, the release added.
A total of 25,954 samples were tested at 219 authorized laboratories
across the country during the time.
“Eighteen more COVID-19 patients died in the last 24 hours, increasing the
death toll from the pandemic to 8,738,” the release said.
It said the tally of infections has surged to 5,77,241 as 3,554 new cases
were confirmed in the last 24 hours.
The recovery count rose to 5,25,994 after another 1,835 patients were
discharged from the hospitals during the period.
Among the total infections, 91.12 percent patients have recovered, while
1.51 percent died so far since the first COVID-19 positive cases were
reported in the country on March 8.
Among the 18 deaths, 12 are male and six female, the press release said,
adding two are in their 40s, six in their 50s while 10 are above 60 years.
According to the division-wise data, 14 deaths took place in Dhaka
Division.
Among the total 8,738 fatalities, 4,929 deaths occurred in Dhaka division,
1,603 in Chattogram division, 488 in Rajshahi division, 570 in Khulna
division, 265 in Barishal division, 315 in Sylhet division, 369 in Rangpur
division and 199 in Mymensingh division, according to the press release.
A total of 44,60,184 samples have so far been tested since the detection of
the first COVID-19 cases in the country.
The DGHS said in order to make treatment facilities easily available for
the COVID-19 patients, the government has introduced telemedicine services
comprising 100 physicians for round the clock in the country.
It added that 2,39,60,078 people received healthcare services from hotline
mobile numbers and health web portals as the government formed a group of
medical professionals to provide emergency healthcare services.
To receive information and treatment facilities on COVID-19, the contact
hotline and mobile numbers are 16263; 333; 10655 and 01944333222.
As of March 23, 2021, 10:23 GMT, 2,737,469 people have died so far from
the COVID-19 outbreak and there are currently 124,378,789 confirmed cases in
212 countries and territories, according to Worldometer, a reference website
that provides counters and real-time statistics for diverse topics.
China was the world’s first country which on January 11, 2020 reported the
first death from the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, the capital of Central
China’s Hubei province.
BSS/PR/MMR/ARS/1642 hrs