Covid deaths top 18,000

Bangladesh has yet again reported its highest single-day deaths from the coronavirus with the toll crossing 18,000 amid a second wave that has left hospitals overwhelmed.

The health authorities reported 231 deaths in the 24 hours to 8am on Monday, amid an eight-day pause in the countrywide strict lockdown, taking the total number of deaths to 180,125.

The new record surpassed the previous high of 230 on July 11.

The country has been reporting over 200 on average over the last two weeks.

Also, Covid-19 infections in Bangladesh have reached 99pc of the peak, with more than 11,828 new cases reported each day. The highest daily average was reported on July 15.

The country recorded 13,321 infections in 24 hours till Monday morning after testing 45,012 samples.

Bangladesh reported its highest daily Covid-19 fatality of 230 on July 11 and 13,768 infections the next day.

The country is in the grip of a second wave of the coronavirus that is threatening to overwhelm its health service.

There have been 11,17,310 infections and 18,125 coronavirus-related deaths in Bangladesh since the pandemic began, according to the Directorate General of Health Services.

Meanwhile, the daily test positivity rate rose to 29.59pc when the World Health Organization recommends a 5pc or below rate.

However, the death rate remained unchanged at 1.62pc, and the recovery rate dropped to 84.25pc.

Dhaka division reported the highest 73 deaths, Khulna 57, Chattogram 43, Rangpur 17, Rajshahi 16, Mymensingh 11, Sylhet eight and Barishal six.

Hospitals are now overwhelmed with patients and struggling to cope as the country is experiencing a devastating second wave of Covid infections, driven by the Delta variant.

So far, Bangladesh has administered at least 10,908,272 doses of Covid vaccines – enough to have vaccinated around 3.1pc of the country's population, assuming every person needs two doses.

231 died, 13,321 infected