Bangladesh on Friday reported seven more deaths from the novel coronavirus and 709 new cases overnight, taking the death toll from the pandemic to 206 and cases to 13,134.
The number of recoveries rose to 2,101 in the same period after 191 patients were discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours till Friday 8am.
Additional Director General for Health Prof Nasima Sultana disclosed those details at the daily media briefing. She said a total of 5,941 samples were tested at 35 authorised laboratories across Bangladesh during the period.
Bangladesh confirmed the first coronavirus death on March 18, ten days after the detection of the first COVID-19 cases. The World Health Organisation declared the disease pandemic on March 11.
Among the latest deceased, five were male and two were female.
One patient was aged above 90 years, two between 71 years and 80 years, two between 61 years and 70 years and two others between 51 years and 60 years, Prof Nasima said.
Among the recoveries, she said Rajshahi saw the highest number of recoveries of 47 in a single day followed by Chattogram with 23 recoveries.
Hospitals in Dhaka division released 22 patients, she said, adding that the patients were being released following the clinical management committee’s guidelines.
“One patient can be released depending on few issues: 1. if his/her fever subsides without taking paracetamol, 2. breathing problems as well as dry cough improve, and 3. Two consecutive RT-PCR tests using the nasopharyngeal swab come negative,” she said.
“But if the first two (1 and 2) indicators persist for continuous 72 hours, then the patients can be released without testing.
“In that case, the patient will have to stay at home or hospital designated places for the next 14 days from the day of release from hospitals and later RT-PCR tests would be conducted,” she said.
The additional director general also advised shops, factories and other facilities running emergency services to maintain guidelines issued by the health directorate.
She shared an analysis of the recent COVID-19 reports and said 84 percent of the infected people were diagnosed in Dhaka.
She listed 10 locations within Dhaka city which house the highest number of patients - Rajarbag, Kakrail, Jatrabari, Mugda, Mohakhali, Mohammadpur, Lalbag, Tejgaon, Malibagh and Babubajar.
“The number of patients within these locations range from 73 to 200,” she said.
About the isolation and quarantine, she said 103 more people were taken to isolation in the last 24 hours across Bangladesh while 2,619 people were either home or institutionally quarantined during the period.
