Dhaka, May 23 : As Bangladesh battles with the Covid-19 pandemic, its health authorities recorded 28 more deaths and 1,354 cases in 24 hours until Sunday morning.The infection rate rose to 8.90 percent from Saturday’s 8.41 percent while the mortality rate stood at 1.57 percent, said a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The new cases of infections were recorded after testing 15,205 samples.
With the fresh deaths during the period, the coronavirus fatalities rose to 12,376 in the country.
The total caseload now stands at 7,89,080 with the new ones, the handout added.
Lockdown extended
The government has extended the ongoing lockdown by another week until May 30 allowing public buses to run at half of their capacities considering the current coronavirus situation in the country.
The Cabinet Division issued a circular in this regard on Sunday.
All concerned, including passengers, will have to maintain health protocols like wearing masks, says the circular.
Besides, hotels and restaurants will be allowed to keep open with half of half of their capacities.
The authorities concerned have been asked to take necessary steps in this regard.
As coronavirus cases kept on growing at an alarming rate since mid-March, the government had imposed a ‘loose’ nationwide lockdown for one week from April 5 as part of its move to contain its spread.
Later, a ‘stricter’ lockdown was announced from April 14 to 21. Then the lockdown was extended several times considering the situation.
Train services set to resume
Twenty-eight pairs of trains will run from Monday across the country following the suspension of the services for over a month as part of the government restrictions on people’s movement to stem the coronavirus transmission.
The authorities concerned have been asked to keep half of the train seat vacant for ensuring a physical distance, said an official release issued by the Ministry of Railways on Sunday.
Passengers can purchase train tickets online, the release added.
