The global caseload stood at 72,221,636 with 1,612,014 deaths on Monday morning. Covid-19 vaccines that have been approved and those showing high efficacy are giving hope in the otherwise grim situation which shows no sign of improvement.

It will take months for many countries to procure and distribute the vaccines. Many countries are already reporting a second wave of infection while the WHO last month warned of a third wave.

Also read: Covid-19: Global caseload crosses 69 mn, with over 1.5 mn deaths

The United States has been hit the worst by the pandemic. The country has recorded 16,251,975 cases as of Monday morning with 299,163 deaths. 

A total of 213,305 new cases and 2,283 deaths were reported across the US on Saturday, according to data updated Sunday by the CDC.

Meanwhile, the first of freezer-packed COVID-19 vaccine vials were sent to distribution sites across the US on Sunday. The rollout of the Pfizer vaccine, the first to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration, ushers in the biggest vaccination effort in US history, reports AP.

Brazil has the world's second-highest COVID-19 death toll after the US, and the third-largest caseload next to the US and India.

Also read: COVID-19 vaccine shipments begin in US

According to a report from the country's Ministry of Health on Sunday, Brazil has registered over 6,901,952 cases and more than 181,402 deaths from COVID-19.

India's COVID-19 tally reached 9,857,029 on Monday as the death toll mounted to 143,019, according to the JHU data.

Also read: 32 more Covid-19 deaths in Bangladesh

Situation in Bangladesh

Bangladesh on Sunday reported 32 more COVID-19 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the fatalities to 7,052. The country also recorded 1,355 new cases, pushing the caseload to 490,533.

The mortality rate stood at 1.44 percent, said the Directorate General of Health Services.

Bangladesh’s COVID-19 death toll crossed the 7,000-mark on Saturday. The country reported its first cases on March 8. The number of cases reached the 300,000-mark on August 26.

Also read: Global Covid-19 cases top 71.6 million

The first death was reported on March 18 and the death toll exceeded 6,000 on November 4. But it took only five weeks for the death toll to climb to 7,000.

Meanwhile, the government on Sunday signed an agreement with Serum Institute of India Pvt Limited for procuring COVID-19 vaccine.

Under the deal, Bangladesh will import 30 million doses of Oxford/Astrazeneca Vaccine, 5 million in each month, from Serum Institute in the next six months.

Also read: Deal signed with India's Serum Institute for Covid-19 vaccine