44,608 Corona Cases Reported in 12 Weeks

Coronavirus cases in Bangladesh grew to 44,608 with the detection of 1,764 new cases in the last 24 hours on Saturday.

"Twenty-eight more patients died during the same period, taking the num ber of total deaths to 610," said Prof. Dr Nasima Sultana, Additional Director-General of the Directorate-General for Health Services (DGHS), during a regular online briefing.

In addition, 360 more patients recovered, adding that 9,987 samples were tested in the country's 50 laboratories during the same period.

Bangladesh reported its first cases on 8 March and its first death on 18 March.

The number of globally confirmed coronavirus cases reached  5,923,432 as of Saturday morning, according to figures compiled by the US-based Johns Hopkins University.

Meanwhile, 364,849 deaths have been reported since the virus first emerged in China late last year.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the coronavirus crisis a pandemic on March 11.