Covid: Fatality rate lower in comparison to previous years

Though the infection rate in the country has been experiencing a downward trend, the number of fatalities is rising. However, the number of casualties is lower in terms of the new cases in comparison to last year.

According to the health department data, a total of 36 people died of coronavirus till Saturday 8am in last 24 hours. With this update, the number of deaths in Covid-19 remains above 30 for a week.  Among 36 people died in past one day, 25 were from Dhaka division. The division accounts for the most Covid fatalities with 43.85 percent.  

In last year, the number of fatalities crossed 100 twelve days after the daily cases exceeded three thousand in June. On the other hand, single day death crossed 200 after the daily count topped 10 thousand. Daily Covid fatalities were above one hundred from 27 June to 27 August.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said, as many as 35 thousand 74 samples were tested in 24 hours from Friday 8am to Saturday 8am. Of them, 8 thousand 359 were tested positive for coronavirus. The infection rate was 23.83 percent. The number of new cases remained below 10 thousand for two consecutive days and the infection rate below 25 percent. Earlier, the number of single day counts was above 10 thousand for 12 days in a row.

After the coronavirus infection was in control for about three and a half months, the number of infection started rising in January. The number of fresh cases surpassed 3 thousand on 13 January. After a week, the daily count outstripped 10 thousand on 20 January and remained above the landmark till 3 February. But, the daily fatalities still stand bellow 40.

The two-year long pandemic data shows, the number of casualty starts rising three weeks after daily counts increase. Experts say, the fatality rate might increase after couple of weeks.       

People from all strata of the community are getting infected in coronavirus. However, the elderly people, patents of cardio vascular disease, kidney and diabetes are most vulnerable due to the virus.

Among the deceased in the country so far, 55.52 percent people were aged above 60. On the other hand, men are mostly dying of the virus in comparison to women. Till Saturday, 63.85 percent men died of the virus while 36.15 percent were women.

 The government declared the first infection diagnosed in the country on 8 March 2020. Till then, the pandemic scenario witnessed ups and downs at several times. The situation turned worst in June-July last year. The infection started decreasing in August and was in control till December last year.

As many as 18 lakh 53 thousand 187 people were tested positive for Covid-19 in the country so far. Of them, 15 lakh 94 thousand 391 recovered while 28 thousand 560 died. The overall death rate in the country is 1.54 percent.