COVID-19 pandemic
Global Covid cases top 397 million
The overall number of Covid cases has surpassed 397 million, with the Omicron variant’s rapid spread across the globe.
According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 397,053,590 while the death toll from the virus reached 5,749,136 Tuesday morning.
The US has recorded 76,848,718 cases so far and 905,521 people have died from the virus in the country, the university data shows.
Russia is reporting a record daily count of new coronavirus infections, a tenfold spike from a month ago as the highly contagious Omicron variant spreads through the country, reports AP.
Russia has confirmed another highest daily of 180,071 new Covid-19 cases over the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 12,982,023, the official monitoring and response centre said on Monday.
The nationwide death toll increased by 661 to 3,360 while the number of recoveries increased from 10,390,732 to 10,624,954
Also read: Single-dose Sputnik Light Covid-19 vaccine gets EUA in India
India has registered 83,876 new cases in the past 24 hours, with the tally reaching 42,334,521, as per the health ministry's data released Monday.
The ministry also reported 897 deaths since Sunday morning, bringing the total fatalities to 504,078.
Brazil, which has been experiencing a new wave of cases since last January, registered 63,324 Covid infections and 420 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing its nationwide count to 26,605,137 and 632,720 respectively, the National Council of Health Secretaries said Saturday.
Situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh logged 38 more Covid-linked deaths with 9,369 fresh cases in 24 hours till Monday morning.
The daily positivity rate slightly declined to 21.07% from Sunday’s 21.50% after testing 44,471 samples during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The number of deaths is the highest in nearly six months as the country last recorded 43 deaths on September 19 last year with 1,383 cases and the daily positivity rate at 5.62%.
On Sunday, Bangladesh reported 29 more Covid-linked deaths with 8,345 fresh cases.
The fresh numbers took the country’s total fatalities to 28,627 while the caseload mounted to 1,870,901.
Also read: Covid-19 in Bangladesh: Daily positivity rate declines, deaths hit 38
Of the 226 deaths recorded from January 31 to February 6, some 28.8% had received Covid vaccines while 71.2% did not, the DGHS mentioned.
Among the new deceased, 28 were men and 10 women.
Sixteen of the deaths were reported in Dhaka division while six in Chattogram, five each in Rajshahi and Khulna, three in Sylhet, two in Mymensingh, and one in Rangpur divisions.
Meanwhile, the mortality rate declined to 1.53%.
However, the recovery rate slightly increased to 86.16% with the recovery of 9,507 more patients during the 24-hour period.
In January, the country reported 322 Covid-linked deaths and 2,13,294 new cases while 19,112 recovered from the disease, according to the DGHS.
On January 28, Bangladesh logged its earlier highest daily positivity rate at 33.37% reporting 15,440 cases and 20 deaths.
On December 9 last year, Bangladesh again logged zero Covid-related death after nearly three weeks as the pandemic was apparently showing signs of easing.
The country reported this year’s first zero Covid-related death in a single day on November 20 last year along with 178 infections since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh in March 2020.
Besides, the country registered the highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year, while the highest number of daily fatalities was 264 on August 10 last year.
Global Covid cases surpass 390 million amid Omicron spread
The overall number of Covid cases has surpassed 390 million as Omicron infections keep rising across the globe.
According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 390,541923 while the death toll from the virus reached 5,724,286 Saturday morning.
The US has recorded 76,344,963 cases so far and 901,288 people have died from the virus in the country, the university data shows.
Russia has confirmed another highest daily of 168,201 new Covid-19 cases over the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 12,452,765, the official monitoring and response centre said on Friday
The nationwide death toll increased by 682 to 334,039, while the number of recoveries increased by 10,337,008 to 10,390,732
India's Covid-19 tally rose to 41,078,653 Friday, as 125,941 new cases were registered in 24 hours across the country, the federal health ministry's latest data showed.
Besides, 1,056 deaths from the pandemic since Thursday morning took the total death toll to 501,143
Situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh reported 30 more Covid-linked deaths with 9,052 fresh cases in 24 hours till Friday morning.
The daily positivity rate further dropped to 22.95 percent from Thursday’s 25.86 per after testing 39,445 samples during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
On Thursday, Bangladesh reported 33 Covid-linked deaths with 11,596 fresh cases.
The fresh numbers took the country’s total fatalities to 28,494 while the caseload mounted to 1,835,776.
Among the new deceased, 19 were men and 11 women.
Seventeen deaths were reported in Dhaka division while five in Chattogram, three in Sylhet, two in each Rajshahi and Khulna, and one in Barishal divisions.
Meanwhile, the mortality rate remained the same as 1.55 per cent.
However, the recovery rate also declined to 86.04 per cent with the recovery of 6,282 more patients during the 24-hour period.
In January, the country reported 322 Covid-linked deaths and 2,13,294 new cases while 19,112 recovered from the disease, according to the DGHS.
On January 28, Bangladesh logged its earlier highest daily positivity rate at 33.37% reporting 15,440 cases and 20 deaths.
Bangladesh’s total tally of Omicron cases reached 69 with the detection of five more cases till January 23, according to GISAID, a global initiative on sharing all influenza data.
On December 9 last year, Bangladesh again logged zero Covid-related death after nearly three weeks as the pandemic was apparently showing signs of easing.
The country reported this year’s first zero Covid-related death in a single day on November 20 last year along with 178 infections since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh in March 2020.
READ: Global Covid cases surpass 390 million amid Omicron spread
Besides, the country registered the highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year, while the highest number of daily fatalities was 264 on August 10 last year.
Extension of restrictions
The government has extended the period of the existing restrictions on people’s movement and other activities until February 21 and imposed two new ones considering the worsening Covid-19 situation in the country.
These restrictions will remain in force from February 7 to 21, said a notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Thursday.
The new restrictions are- gathering of more than 100 people in social, political, religious or state events will not be allowed in open places or indoors and those who will attend the events must bring Covid Vaccination Certificate or report of RT PCR test underwent within 24 hours.
READ: Global Covid cases top 387 million
Besides, in-person classes of schools, colleges and equivalent educational institutions will remain suspended during this period, said the notification.
Amid the growing concern over the Coronavirus’ new Omicron variant, the government on January 13 imposed 11-point restrictions.
Canadian police expect COVID-19 protests to ramp up again
Ontario’s Conservative premier called Friday for demonstrators to end the “occupation” of Ottawa, while police moved 150 officers to the parts of the capital most affected by the protest against vaccine mandates..
Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly gave no indication when the days-old protest would end, saying police expected it to ramp up again this weekend, when protests are also planned in Toronto and Quebec City.
“It’s not a protest anymore. It’s become an occupation,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said. “It’s time for this to come to an end.”
Ford said the province is very close to getting back to normal in the pandemic and protests are a constitutional right, but he said an occupation is unacceptable.
Sloly acknowledged “trust has been impacted” as Ottawa residents are furious with the blaring horns, traffic gridlock and harassment they have faced. Many complain police have done little and they call it an occupation.
Also read: Canada PM tests positive for Covid, rips anti vaccine demo
“If we knew that it was going to seep into the neighborhoods we would have deployed more resources into those neighborhoods,” deputy police chief Steve Bell said. “We’ve listened to our community. They are upset, they are fearful.”
Thousands of protesters railing against vaccine mandates and other COVID-19 restrictions descended on the capital last weekend, deliberately blocking traffic around Parliament Hill. Police estimate about 250 remained, but Bell said they expected 300 to 400 more trucks this weekend and more than 1,000 protesters on foot. He said up to 1,000 counter-protesters were expected as well.
The “freedom truck convoy” has attracted support from former U.S. President Donald Trump and the opposition federal Conservative party in Canada, but two federal Conservative party lawmakers broke with the party and said the protest needed to end.
“I spent the week undergoing the Siege of Ottawa,” Conservative lawmaker Pierre Paul-Hus tweeted. “I ask that we clear the streets and that we stop this occupation controlled by radicals and anarchist groups.”
“I wholeheartedly and unreservedly deplore and denounce what is happening in Ottawa with the so-called Freedom Convoy right now. Let me be clear: If you wrap yourself in or go about waving a Nazi or Confederate flag, you are declaring yourself a person who embraces hate, bigotry, and racism,” Patterson said in a statement.
The Conservative party ousted its moderate party leader this week and the interim leader has voiced support for the protesters.
Also read: 6 provinces in Canada report new daily highs for coronavirus
Many Canadians were outraged after some protesters urinated and parked on the National War Memorial. One danced on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. A number carried signs and flags with swastikas.
Protesters have said they won’t leave until all mandates and COVID-19 restrictions are gone. They are also calling for the removal of Trudeau’s government, though it is responsible for few of the measures, most of which were put in place by provincial governments.
Late Thursday, federal Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police had approved the mayor’s request for the national police force to support city police.
Organizers, including ones who have espoused racist and white supremacist views, had raised millions for the cross-country “freedom truck convoy” against vaccine mandates and other restrictions. Protests are planned for Toronto and Quebec City as well. Toronto police closed a street in front of the provincial legislature where major five hospitals are located.
The Canadian Trucking Alliance, a federation representing truckers across the country, has estimated that 85% of truckers in Canada are vaccinated. It opposes the protest.
Some of the demonstrators are protesting a rule that took effect Jan. 15 requiring truckers entering Canada to be fully immunized against the coronavirus. The U.S. has the same rule for truckers entering the U.S. So if the Canadian government removed it, it would make no difference.
Covid-19 restrictions extended until Feb 21
The government has extended the period of the existing restrictions on people’s movement and other activities until February 21 and imposed two new ones considering the worsening Covid-19 situation in the country.
These restrictions will remain in force from February 7 to 21, said a notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Thursday.
The new restrictions are- gathering of more than 100 people in social, political, religious or state events will not be allowed in open places or indoors and those who will attend the events must bring Covid Vaccination Certificate or report of RT PCR test underwent within 24 hours.
Besides, in-person classes of schools, colleges and equivalent educational institutions will remain suspended during this period, said the notification.
Also read: Covid surge: Closure of schools, colleges extended until Feb 20
On Tuesday, the government extended the closure of secondary and higher secondary-level educational institutions by two weeks until February 20.
Amid the growing concern over the Coronavirus’ new Omicron variant, the government on January 13 imposed 11-point restrictions.
Also read: Covid in Bangladesh: Daily deaths hit 36 Covid situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh reported 36 more Covid-linked deaths with 12,193 fresh cases in 24 hours till Wednesday morning.
The daily positivity rate further dropped to 27.43% from Tuesday's 29.17% after testing 44,308 samples during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).The fresh numbers took the country’s total fatalities to 28,461 while the caseload mounted to 1,824,180.
Meanwhile, the mortality rate further declined to 1.56%.However, the recovery rate also declined to 87.35% with the recovery of 4,203 more patients during the 24-hour period.
In January, the country reported 322 Covid-linked deaths and 2,13,294 new cases while 19,112 recovered from the disease, according to DGHS.
Global Covid cases top 377 million
The overall number of Covid cases has surpassed 377 million as Omicron infections keep rising across the globe.
According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 377,870,012 while the death toll from the virus reached 5,672,065 Tuesday morning.
The US has recorded 74,928,013 cases so far and 886,627 people have died from the virus in the country, the university data shows.
India's Covid-19 tally rose to 41,466,711 on Monday, as 209,918 new cases were registered in 24 hours across the country, as per the federal health ministry data.
Also read: Global Covid cases top 374 million amid Omicron spread
Besides, as many as 940 deaths were recorded since Sunday morning, taking the toll to 496,268.
Meanwhile, Brazil, which has been experiencing a new wave of cases since last January, registered 25,454,105 cases as of Sunday, while its Covid death toll rose to 627,365.
Situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh logged 31 more Covid-related deaths, with 13,501 fresh cases in 24 hours till Monday morning.
The daily positivity rate rose again to 29.77% from Sunday’s 28.33% after testing 45,358 samples during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
On Sunday, Bangladesh saw its highest fatalities in the past four months -- 34 deaths with 12,183 fresh cases.
The country last reported 31 Covid-related deaths on September 28 last year, with 1,310 cases, taking the positivity rate to 4.49%.
On Friday, Bangladesh logged its earlier highest daily positivity rate at 33.37% reporting 15,440 cases and 20 deaths.
The fresh numbers took the country’s total fatalities to 28,394 while the caseload mounted to 1,798,833.
Also read: Bangladesh reports 31 more deaths as Covid havoc continues
Of the 140 deaths recorded from January 24 to January 30, some 22.1% received Covid vaccines while 77.9% did not, the DGHS said.
Among the new deceased, 20 were men and 11 women.
Sixteen deaths were reported in Dhaka division while five in Khulna, three each in Rangpur and Mymensingh, two in Chattogram, and one each in Rajshahi, and Sylhet divisions.
Meanwhile, the mortality rate further declined to 1.58%.
However, the recovery rate also declined to 87.18% with the recovery of 2,568 more patients during the 24-hour period.
Omicron Cases
Bangladesh’s total tally of Omicron cases reached 69 with the detection of five more cases till January 23, according to GISAID, a global initiative on sharing all influenza data.
On December 9 last year, Bangladesh again logged zero Covid-related death after nearly three weeks as the pandemic was apparently showing signs of easing.
The country reported this year’s first zero Covid-related death in a single day on November 20 last year, along with 178 infections, since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh in March 2020.
Besides, the country registered the highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year, while the highest number of daily fatalities was 264 on August 10 last year.
Global Covid cases surpass 366 million
The overall number of Covid infections is fast approaching 366 million, with a spike in cases of the Omicron variant across the world.
According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 366,694,242 while the death toll from the virus reached 5,656,642 Friday morning.
The US has recorded 74,695,333 cases so far and 902,140 people have died from the virus in the country, the university data shows.
India's Covid-19 tally rose to 40,620,197 on Thursday, as 248,697 new cases were registered in 24 hours across the South Asian country, according to the federal health ministry's latest data.
Also read: Global Covid cases near 362 million
Meanwhile, 627 deaths due to the pandemic reported since Tuesday morning took the total death toll to 492,357.
Brazil, which has been experiencing a new wave of cases since last January, registered 24,782,922 cases as of Thursday, while its Covid death toll rose to 625,169.
Situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh reported 15 more Covid-linked deaths with 15,807 fresh cases in 24 hours till Thursday morning.
The daily positivity rate rose again to 31.98% from Wednesday’s 31.64% after testing 49,425 samples, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The country logged its highest daily positivity rate of 32.55% on July 24 last year, reporting 6,780 cases and 195 deaths.
On Wednesday, the country reported 17 more Covid-linked deaths and 15,527 fresh cases.
The fresh numbers took the country’s total fatalities to 28,288 while the caseload mounted to 1,747,311 on Thursday.
Among the new deceased, 10 were women and five women.
Eight cases were reported in Dhaka division, three in Chattogram, two in Rajshahi and one each in Barishal and Rangpur divisions.
Meanwhile, the mortality rate further declined to 1.62%.
Also read: Covid kills 15 more in Bangladesh as positivity rate stands at 31.98%
However, the recovery rate also kept declining to 89.34% with the recovery of 1,037 more patients during the 24-hour period.
Bangladesh’s total tally of Omicron cases reached 69 with the detection of five more cases till Sunday, according to GISAID, a global initiative on sharing all influenza data.
On December 9 last year, Bangladesh again logged zero Covid-related death after nearly three weeks as the pandemic was apparently showing signs of easing.
The country reported this year’s first zero Covid-related death in a single day on November 20 last year, along with 178 infections, since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh in March 2020.
Besides, the country registered the highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year, while the highest number of daily fatalities was 264 on August 10 last year.
Global Covid cases top 354 million
The overall number of Covid cases has surpassed 354 million amid the rise in Omicron infections across the globe.
According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 354,310,228 while the death toll from the virus reached 5,603,714 Tuesday morning.
The US has recorded 71,645,863 cases so far and 868,420 people have died from the virus in the country, the university data shows.
India's Covid-19 tally rose to 39,543,328 Monday, as 306,064 new cases were registered in 24 hours across the country, as per the federal health ministry's data.
Monday was the fifth consecutive day when over 300,000 new cases were registered in a day in the country in over eight months.
Also read: Global Covid cases near 350 million
Besides, as many as 474 deaths were recorded since Saturday morning, taking the death toll to 489,896.
Meanwhile, the country's Omicron tally reached 10,050 Monday. Most of the Omicron cases have been reported from the states of Maharashtra, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Delhi.
Brazil, which has been experiencing a new wave of cases since last January, registered 24,134,946 cases as of Tuesday, while its Covid death toll rose to 623,412.
Covid situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh logged 15 more Covid-linked deaths with 14,828 fresh cases in 24 hours till Monday morning.
The daily positivity rate rose to 32.37 percent from Sunday’s 31.29 percent after testing 45,807 samples, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The country logged its peak daily positivity rate of 32.55 percent on July 24 last year, reporting 6,780 cases and 195 deaths.
Bangladesh last saw 15,776 cases on August 3 last year with 235 deaths.
The fresh numbers took the country’s total fatalities to 28,238 while the caseload mounted to 1,699,964 Monday.
Of the 79 deaths recorded from January 17 to January 23, some 35.4 percent received Covid vaccines while 64.6 percent did not, the DGHS mentioned.
Among the new deceased, nine were men and six women.
Also read: Govt. will wait for a week to take further decision on Covid-19 curbs: Farhad
Six cases were reported in Dhaka division while three in Mymensingh, two in Sylhet and one each in Chattogram, Rajshahi Khulna, and Barishal divisions.
Meanwhile, the mortality rate further declined to 1.66 percent.
However, the recovery rate also declined further to 91.64 percent with the recovery of 998 more patients during the 24-hour period.
Bangladesh’s total tally of Omicron cases reached 69 with the detection of five more cases till Sunday, according to GISAID, a global initiative on sharing all influenza data.
On December 9 last year, Bangladesh again logged zero Covid-related death after nearly three weeks as the pandemic was apparently showing signs of easing.
The country reported this year’s first zero Covid-related death in a single day on November 20 last year along with 178 infections since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh in March 2020.
Bangladesh reported the highest number of daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 last year, while the highest daily caseload was 16,230 on July 28 last year.
Govt, private offices to run with half manpower from Monday
Public and private organizations have been instructed to run with half the employees from Monday till February 6 in an effort to curb the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.
The Cabinet Division issued a notification in this regard on Sunday.
The other half of the staff will function virtually, according to the notification.
Bangladesh Supreme Court will issue necessary directions regarding the activities of the court during this period.
Also read: Tough Covid curbs back in Bangladesh amid Omicron scare
Besides, Bangladesh Bank and Financial Institutions Division will provide necessary instructions regarding banks, insurance and financial institutions.
Earlier on Friday, the government announced the closure of all the schools, colleges and universities till February 6.
Covid situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh logged 14 more Covid-linked deaths with 10,906 fresh cases in 24 hours till Sunday morning.
Also read: Covid surge in Bangladesh: All educational institutions to remain shut till Feb 6
The daily positivity rate increased to 31.29 per cent from Saturday’s 28.02 per cent after testing 35,051 samples, according to the Directorate general of health Services (DGHS).
The fresh numbers took the country’s total fatalities to 28,223 while the caseload mounted to 1,685,136 on Sunday
Global Covid cases top 310 million
The overall number of Covid cases has now surpassed 310 million, with a spike in cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus across the globe.
According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 310,052,676 while the death toll from the virus reached 5,494,246 Tuesday morning.
The US has recorded 61,492,765 cases so far and 839,480 people have died from the virus in the country, the university data shows. The total number of Covid cases in the US topped 60 million on Sunday.
India's Covid tally rose to 35,869,947 Monday as a steep rise of 180,438 new daily cases were registered, as per the federal health ministry's latest data.
Also read: Harsh restrictions back in Bangladesh as Covid situation worsens
That was the fourth consecutive day when more than 100,000 daily cases were registered in the country.
Besides, 146 pandemic-related deaths since Saturday morning took the total death toll to 483,936.
Situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is seeing a steep rise in Covid-19 cases as 2,231 more infections along with three more deaths were reported in 24 hours till Monday morning.
With the fresh cases reported after testing 26,143 samples, the daily positivity rate jumped again to 8.53 percent from Sunday’s 6.78 percent during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services.
The country last logged 2,325 cases on September 10, last year along with 38 deaths in 24 hours.
Bangladesh is currently seeing a surge of Covid-19 cases as health authorities logged 10,392 infections in the last 10 days since January 1.
The fresh numbers took the country’s total fatalities to 28,105 while the caseload mounted to 15,95,931.
Of the 25 deaths recorded from January 3 to January 9, some 16 percent received Covid vaccines while 84 percent did not, according to the directorate.
Comorbidities among the deceased patients declined 2.8 percent this week compared to the previous one. Comorbidity means the simultaneous presence of two or more diseases or medical conditions in a patient.
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.76 percent during the period.
The recovery rate further declined to 97.19 percent, with the recovery of 208 more patients during the 24-hour period.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s total tally of Omicron cases reached 30, with the detection of nine more cases Monday, according to GISAID, a global initiative on sharing all influenza data.
On December 9 last year, Bangladesh again logged zero Covid-related death after nearly three weeks as the pandemic was apparently showing signs of easing.
Also read: Covid-19 in Bangladesh: Daily positivity rate hits 8.53 %
The country reported this year’s first zero Covid-related death in a single day on November 20 last year along with 178 infections since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh in March 2020.
Bangladesh logged the highest number of daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 last year, while the highest daily caseload was 16,230 on July 28 last year.
Overseas employment turns the corner after Covid-induced slump
In an encouraging sign of normalcy returning to the overseas labour market for Bangladeshis, the number of workers receiving immigration clearance in a single month from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training crossed 100,000 (1 lakh) last November.
Only once before, in March 2017, had so many workers (above 1 lakh) received BMET clearance in a single month. But the November figure gains far more significance coming on the back of the post-Covid lockdown slump witnessed in the international labour market.
Shahidul Alam, Director General of BMET, told UNB that 102,863 (1 lakh 2 thousand 63) workers were provided clearance to go abroad in November 2021, by far the highest in a single month since the start of the pandemic.
Also read: Supreme Court rules against immigrants with temporary status
According to BMET numbers, 35,732 workers were cleared to go abroad in January 2021, followed by 49,510 in February and 61,653 in March. However, during the second wave of the pandemic in the country, the number of migrating workers decreased due to the reimposition of lockdown in April, dropping to 34,145 and then even further to 14,200 in May.