Global coronavirus cases surge past 127 million


FE Team | Published: March 29, 2021 13:21:39 | Updated: March 30, 2021 15:50:12


Global coronavirus cases surge past 127 million

Amid the worrying situation of Covid-19 infection in different parts of the world, the global cases surpassed 127 million on Monday.

The total case count reached 127,116,964 while the death toll from the virus mounted to 2,783,689, according to the data compiled by Johns Hopkins University (JHU).

The US has recorded 30,262,123 cases with 549,335 fatalities, reports UNB citing the JHU.

The US has surpassed 30 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 on March 25. The new milestone comes as public health experts show cautious optimism three months into the US vaccination rollout. It is believed that 70 per cent of Americans 65 and older have received at least one dose of the vaccine and COVID-19 deaths are below 1,000 a day on average for the first time since November, reports AP.

The federal government is dramatically ramping up vaccine production and several states have already expanded vaccination eligibility to people age 16 and up.

Besides, Brazil has registered 12,534,688 cases while the death toll from COVID-19 in the country now stands at 312,206 as of Monday.

India’s total tally reached 11,971,624 and the death toll from the virus surged to 161,552 till Monday morning.

Situation in Bangladesh

A growing number of coronavirus cases and an alarming uptrend in the daily infection rate are posing big challenges to Bangladesh in its fight against the deadly virus.

A 2.75 per cent rise in the infection rate was recorded on Sunday (17.65 per cent) compared to 14.9 per cent a day earlier.

The country’s health authorities reported 3,908 new cases and 35 Covid-related deaths during a 24-hour period until Sunday morning.

Now, the local fatality tally stands at 8,904, according to a handout of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The country reported its first coronavirus-related death on March 18 last year.

Bangladesh, which announced its first cases on March 8 last year, has so far reported 595,714 infections.

However, the mortality rate was recorded at 1.4 per cent on Sunday which was 1.5 per cent on Saturday.

So far, 535,941 patients (89.97 per cent) have recovered, including 2,019 in the last 24 hours, according to DGHS.

So far, 4,588,830 samples, including 22,136 in the past 24 hours, have been tested.

Coronavirus cases were first reported in China in December 2019. Until Sunday, countries around the world confirmed 126.6 million cases with 2.77 million fatalities, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Fight against Covid

Along with a countrywide vaccination drive, the government has taken a tougher stance to tackle the transmission of Covid-19.

The Health Ministry sent letters to districts, directing the officials concerned to impose fines on people flouting Covid protocols.

Meanwhile, the closure of schools and colleges were extended until May 23 as the situation showed no sign of improvement.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said she wants quick steps to fight the fresh surge of Covid-19 cases. “We’ll have to take prompt steps as we did in the past,” she said at a virtual discussion.

She said health guidelines and safe physical distance will have to be maintained at every programme and the use of face masks must be ensured.

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