Dhaka: Coronavirus cases in the country continue to rise, with health officials reporting 497 new cases yesterday.

The total number of detected cases now stands at 5,913 and the death toll reached 152.

In a worrying development, the daily number of reported deaths again rose from that of the previous day.

Prof Nasima Sultana, additional director general (admin) of the directorate general of health services (DGHS), in the regular press conference reported the deaths of seven more patients.

Of the seven deceased, six were male.

Five of them were over 60, one between 40-51, and one a child under 10.

Of them, five were from Dhaka, one from Sylhet and one from Rajshahi.

According to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) website, Dhaka city has continued to be the worst affected area in the country.

Of yesterday's new cases, Dhaka accounted for the highest with 232, while Narayanganj was in second spot with 74 new cases.

The total number of cases in Dhaka city reached 2,717, followed by Narayanganj with 699.

As of yesterday, some 52.26 percent of all positive cases were from the capital while 32.31 percent are from the upazilas in Dhaka and the districts belonging to Dhaka division.

Among the other divisions, Chattogram and Mymensingh shared 3.87 percent of all positive cases each.

Among all positive cases, the highest 24 percent were in the 21-30 age group as of yesterday.

Meanwhile, nine more have recovered from Covid-19, taking the total number of recovered cases to 131, Prof Nasima added.

Of all recovered patients, 76 were from Dhaka city while 25 were from Narayanganj – the two major hotspots of the epidemic in the country.

A total of 1,220 people have been put under isolation so far in the country.

In the 24 hours leading up to 2:30 pm yesterday, a total of 3,812 individuals' samples were tested in 25 laboratories across the country, taking the tally of total tests to 50,401.

Yesterday, testing for Covid-19 was launched at Cumilla Medical College lab. Testing at Kurmitola General Hospital lab will begin from today.

"Besides, testing activities will be started at Chattogram University and in Dhaka University soon," Prof Nasima Sultana informed.

DHAKA CITY WITNESS HIGHEST DEATHS

On March 18, the authorities reported the first death -- within the 11th-day of the first three positive cases being reported on March 8.

Of all deaths so far, Dhaka city witnessed the highest number of deaths -- 76, followed by Narayanganj with 39 deaths, according to the IEDCR website.

Besides, all upazilas and six affected districts out of 12 in Dhaka division have seen 13 deaths so far.

Of the other divisions, 10 deaths were reported in Chattogram division, four in Sylhet, one in Khulna, five in Mymensingh, two in Barishal and one in Rajshahi.

So far, Rangpur division, where 82 patients have been detected, have seen no deaths.

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