The country on Wednesday registered 1,988 new cases of coronavirus infection, which is highest since April 30 when 2,177 people found positive.
In last 24 hours till 8:00 am on the day, 34 more people lost their lives due to Covid-19, according to the regular update by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
With the latest figures, the death toll from the contagion reached 12,694 while the total positive cases stood at 804,293, the DGHS data showed.
In last 24 hours, some 20,259 samples were tested across the country at 509 labs - both public and private - of which 9.81 per cent of the samples were found positive.
In the meantime, 1,914 more people recovered from the Covid-related complexities to take the number of recoveries to 744,065.
So far,the recovery rate from the disease is 92.51 per cent and the mortality rate stands at 1.58 per cent, official data showed.
The country carried out a total of 5,986,022 tests till date while the overall positivity rate stood at 13.44 per cent.
Among the 34 deceased on the day, 21 were men and 13 women.
Of them, 18 people aged above 60 years, eight between 51-60, five within 41-50, and three between 21-30 years old, according to DGHS data.
Meanwhile, the local administration has imposed a week-long lockdown in Naogaon municipality and Niamatpur upazila areas amid fears of spreading the Indian variant of coronavirus. Naogaon Deputy Commissioner (DC) Harun-or-Rahsid announced the directive at a press conference on the day, according to a news agency. In last one week, the coronavirus cases went up in the bordering districts especially in the districts of Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Jashore and Khulna.
In Rajshahi, a total of 427 more people tested positive for Covid-19 afresh in all the eight districts of the division on Tuesday.
Of the cases, highest 196 were detected in Chapainawabganj, followed by 123 in Rajshahi, including 87 in the city, 25 in Pabna, 23 in Natore, 17 in Bogura, 15 in Naogaon, 14 in Joypurhat and Sirajganj each.
The daily infection figure shows a significant escalation compared to the previous day's figure of 382, said the health department sources.
The number of deaths in the Rajshahi division from the disease stands at 569, including 315 in Bogura and 87 in Rajshahi with 55 in its city while five more fatalities reported afresh Wednesday, Dr Talukder added.
The government as well as the local authorities have imposed lockdowns in those districts where the rate of transmission is higher than national average.
So far more than 30 cases of Indian variant of Covid-19 have been reported in the country while at least a third of them have no record of visiting India, indicating that the Indian variant has already causing internal transmission.
The authorities have moved to tighten the lockdown restrictions in Rajshahi. On Wednesday, the district administration issued a list of 10 directives, including the closure of shops and shopping malls from 10 am to 6 pm, which will be effective from today (Thursday). The restrictions will continue until the situation comes under control.
Besides limiting the business hours of shops, people will also be barred from going outside after 7pm, except for an emergency, while all large gatherings have been prohibited.
A mobile team of the district administration will work alongside the police to ensure strict compliance with health and hygiene rules throughout the district. Meanwhile, some 7,713 more people received the 2nd dose of Covishield vaccine on the day. Inoculation with first dose of the vaccine is currently stopped due to supply shortage.
So far, around 5.82 million people were administered with the first shot of the Covishield, made by AstraZeneca, while over 4.19 million people have received the second dose of the antidote.
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