FigureGlobal distribution of confirmed cases of COVID-19 pandemic
According to epidemiologic data, Yemen had the highest mortality rate around the world (27.7%) followed by France (17.3%) and UK (15.4%) until 20 July 2020 [25]. Since there is no identified preexisting immunity against the virus, the infection rate is increasing in an unpredictable manner and all individuals are vulnerable to the virus. One of the alarming news is that since SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus, it continuously mutates and even after taking preemptive precautions and measures, the number of infected cases is increasing.
Bangladesh has become the new hotspot of COVID-19 and has the highest number of infected patients among the South Asian countries after India and Pakistan. According to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) so far 207,453 people have been infected and 2,668 have died of the disease in Bangladesh until 20 July 2020, with a mortality rate of 1.29%. Around the same time, 113,558 of COVID-19 patients have recovered from the disease with a recovery rate of 54.8% [26]. The geographical distribution of confirmed cases was available on 70% cases (144,281/207,453). Dhaka division has the highest number of infected patients in the country with more than 50% of all reported cases, of which 48,322 have been reported from the country’s capital Dhaka city. Chattogram (29,661) and Rajshahi (10,477) divisions positioned the second and third places regarding most confirmed COVID-19 patients, respectively [26]. Of the 2,668 deceased cases, the highest number was also reported from the Dhaka division (1,305), followed by the Chattogram division (673) and the Khulna division (173) (Table 01) [26, 27]. The country reported its first confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection on 8 March and its first death on 18 March 2020. In a 24 hour period, the highest 4,019 cases were reported on 2 July and the highest 64 fatalities on June 30 [28]. It saw a rapid rise of infection at the middle of May; almost 90,038 confirmed cases and 1,136 deaths have been reported between week 21 to week 25 which is more than the total number combined in the initial days, albeit infection had been on a steady increase in the initial month [26]. The country reached 10,000 cases on the 3rd of May, exceeded 100,000 confirmed cases on 18 June and has recently crossed 200,000 infected patients on 18 July.