Bangladesh coronavirus cases exceed 20,000

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Bangladesh passed 20,000 and deaths from the disease neared 300. 

Total infections stood at 20,065 after the country on Friday recorded 1,202 new cases, the highest single-day spike.

In the past 24 hours, the deadly virus claimed 15 more lives, making the tally to 298, the Directorate General of Health Services ADG prof Dr Nasima Sultana said today.

Among the deceased, eight were female and seven male. Two were octogenarians, three sexagenarians, five aged above 50, one above 30, and one under 30. 

During the period, samples of 8,582 people were examined. With this, a total of 1,60,512 samples were examined, she informed in DGHS's regular bulletin on coronavirus.

The official said 279 more people recovered from the virus, bringing the total recovery to 3,882. 

Prof Nasima called on all to stay at home and follow health guidelines issued by the health department to stem the transmission of the pathogen.

Bangladesh first reported its coronavirus cases on March 8. Since then the country has been witnessing increase in the infections and deaths.

COVID-19 first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December last year, and then spread to 213 countries and territories.

As of Friday, the epidemic infected 4,542,387 people and killed 303,651 across the globe, according to Worldometer, a website which compiles number of new coronavirus cases and deaths from it.

However, total recovery from the coronavirus pandemic reached 1,712,529 across the world.