Bangladesh: Coronavirus recoveries top 55%

By SM Najmus Sakib

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) – The COVID-19 recovery rate in Bangladesh has crossed 55%, while the mortality rate now stands at 1.30%, authorities said on Friday.

A total of 1,768 patients recovered over the past 24 hours, raising the overall number to 120,976, or 55.33%, Health Ministry official Nasima Sultana said at a daily news briefing.

Virus-related fatalities in the country rose to 2,836, with 35 more deaths – 28 men and seven women – recorded over the past day.

The country’s overall case count increased by 2,548 to reach 218,658, the official said.

A total of 12,027 more tests were conducted across Bangladesh over the past 24 hours, with the infection rate standing at 21.19%, she added.

- ‘Financial aid can slow COVID-19 spread’

The United Nations Development Program has advised the Bangladesh government to provide cash allowances to 40% of its over 161 million population.

It said the government should give around $25 per month to some 65 million people, saying that financial assistance to the poorest people on an emergency basis could reduce the rate of coronavirus infections.

In a report released on Thursday, the UN agency estimates that it would cost about $199 billion per month to provide a time-bound, guaranteed basic income to 2.7 billion people living below or just above the poverty line in 132 developing countries.

“The immediate introduction of a Temporary Basic Income for the world’s poorest people could slow the current surge in COVID-19 cases by enabling nearly three billion people to stay at home,” the report said.