Bangladesh registers most virus cases in a day

By SM Najmus Sakib

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) - Bangladesh on Sunday recorded 665 new coronavirus cases, its highest number of the outbreak, taking the total infections to 9,455.

Two more people died of the virus in the last 24 hours, raising the national death toll to 177.

The South Asian nation confirmed its first COVID-19 case on March 8, and the virus-link death on March 18.

The rising number of cases is also because of an increase in the country's testing capacity.

Bangladesh now has 33 testing labs nationwide, and a total of 5,368 samples were examined today, Nasima Sultana of the Directorate General of Health Services, told a news conference.

- Virus among police personnel

At least 854 police personnel have so far contracted the virus, with 113 in the past 24 hours, Bangladesh Police told Anadolu Agency.

Five police personnel have died of the virus so far, whereas 315 are under treatment at isolation centers, 1,250 are under home quarantine while 57 law enforcers made a recovery, according to the data.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police recorded the highest number of infections among the police, with 449 of its personnel testing positive.

With the rise in cases, the police force is struggling. Some 200,000 members of the workforce are on the field to ensure people’s safety, and keep the situation in order during the nationwide lockdown, which started on March 26, and is in place till May 15.