Bangladesh counts 886 new virus cases, lowest since May 9, as sample collection slows

Bangladesh has reported fewer than 1,000 coronavirus cases in a day for the first time in two and a half months after the number of daily sample tests hit a three-month low on Eid-ul-Azha.

A total of 3,684 samples were tested for COVID-19 at authorised labs across the country, returning just 886 positive results until 8 am Sunday -- the lowest tally since May 9, according to government data.

It took the caseload in the country to 240,746 with a positivity rate of 24.05 percent in the last 24 hours.

 

The death toll from the disease climbed to 3,154 after 22 new fatalities were registered in the same period -- a two-month low, matching the body count reported on Jun 1.

Another 586 patients recovered through treatment at home and in hospital care in the same, raising the total to 136,839, DGHS Additional Director General Nasima Sultana said in a media briefing.

It puts the rate of recovery from the disease at 56.84 percent, while the mortality rate stands at 1.31 percent following the deaths of 17 men and five women in the last 24 hours.

As many as 3,684 samples were tested at authorised labs across the country during that time, with a positivity rate of 24.05 percent, according to the health directorate.

Globally, over 17.85 million people have been infected by the novel coronavirus and 685,179 have died, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.