Global Covid cases top 546 million

C T Online Desk: The total number of Covid cases has now crossed 546 million amid a rise in new infections in parts of the world.

According to the latest global data, the total case count mounted to 546,626,378 while the death toll from the virus reached 6,345,658 Thursday morning.

The US has recorded 88,443,398 cases so far and 1,039,771 people have died from the virus in the country, the data shows.

India reported 12,249 new Covid cases, taking the total tally to 43,331,645, according to the federal health ministry data released on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, 13 more deaths were reported since Tuesday morning, taking the total toll to 524,903.

The number of new coronavirus cases rose in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe last week, while the number of deaths globally dropped by 16 per cent according to the World Health Organization’s latest weekly pandemic report issued Wednesday, reports AP.

The WHO said there were 3.3 million new Covid-19 infections last week, marking a 4 per cent decrease, with more than 7,500 deaths. But cases jumped by about 45% in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and by about 6 per cent in Europe.

Southeast Asia was the only region to report a slight 4% increase in deaths, while figures fell elsewhere. Globally, the number of new Covid-19 cases has been falling after peaking in January.

Bangladesh registered one Covid-linked death with 1,135 fresh cases in 24 hours till Wednesday morning.

This is the third Covid-linked death in the current month.

The daily case positivity rate rose to 13.30 per cent from Tuesday’s 11.03 percent as 8,552 samples were tested during the period.

The country’s total caseload rose to 1,959,209 while the total fatalities reached 29,134 with the new numbers, according to the Directorate General of Health Services.