04 January 2021

Morbidity and Mortality

Weekly Update (MMWU) No45
https://www.who.int/bangladesh/emergencies/coronavirus-disease-(covid-19)-update/

Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka Photo Credit: Social Media Bangladesh

Tested Confirmed Cases Recovered Death Hotline

3,260,327 516,019 460,598 7,626 23.3 million

Test/100,000/Week Case/100,000/Week Recovery Rate CFR% AR/100,000

51.9 4.0 89.3% 1.48 303

Laboratories PPE Stock PoE Screening

RT PCR Lab : 114

819,911 944,884
GeneXpert Lab : 26
Rapid Antigen : 40
6,786,314 59,506
Tested in Last days: 88,417

237,488 7,029

60.1% 15.8%
1,700,187 432,554
PCR Tests Inside Dhaka Overall Positivity

Date Source: Directorate General of Health Services, MoHFW, Bangladesh

WHO Bangladesh COVID-19 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Update (MMWU) 04 January 2021/Vol. No45

1. Global Situation

Globally, as of 12:00 AM, 03 January 2021 there have been 82,579,768 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 1,818,849
deaths received by WHO from national authorities. USA, the world’s worst hit country, has counted 19,578,217 (231,427)
cases with 339,550 (3,761) deaths as reported to WHO; followed by India with 10,305,788 (19,079) cases; while Brazil
reported the third highest cases of 7,675,973 (56,773) and second highest deaths 194,949 (1,074) followed by India
149218 (224) at the same cut off time.

The figure below is showing trend of the weekly number of reported COVID-19 cases by WHO region, 01 January
2020 – 03 January 2021

The figure below shows top ranked countries for total cases of confirmed COVID-19, deaths and new cases,
01 January 2020 – 03 January 2021

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WHO Bangladesh COVID-19 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Update (MMWU) 04 January 2021/Vol. No45

2. Bangladesh Situation

Between 8 March 2020 and 03 January 2021, according to the DGHS Press Release <https://corona.gov.bd/press-release>
there were five hundred sixteen thousand nineteen (516,019) COVID-19 confirmed by rRT-PCR, GeneXpert and Antigen
tests including seven thousand six hundred twenty-six (7,626) related deaths (CFR 1.48%). Bangladesh is the top 27th
country in the world and accounts for 0.62% of the COVID-19 disease burden in the world.

The figure below is showing the trend of COVID-19 cases and deaths, 08 March 2020 – 03 January 2021,
Bangladesh

4,000 120

3,500 105

Number of Deaths (n=7,626)

3,000 90
Number of Cases (N=516,019)

2,500 75

2,000 60

1,500 45

1,000 30

500 15

0 0
5-Jul
7-Jun

22-Nov
16-Aug

30-Aug

13-Sep

27-Sep

20-Dec
19-Jul
12-Apr

26-Apr

21-Jun

11-Oct

25-Oct

3-Jan
15-Mar

29-Mar

10-May

2-Aug
24-May

6-Dec
8-Nov
Daily Cases 7 DMA Daily Death 7 DMA

The figure below is showing the weekly test status and positivity of COVID-19, 08 March 2020 – 03 January 2021,
Bangladesh

In the epidemiological week 53 (28 DEC 2020 – 03 JAN 2021), number of new cases in Bangladesh is 6,871; case per
100,000 population per week is 4.0. New death is 174; death per 100,000 per week is 0.1; Weekly CFR 2.53. Weekly new
test is 88,417; tests per 100,000 per week is 51.9; weekly test positivity is 7.8%.

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WHO Bangladesh COVID-19 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Update (MMWU) 04 January 2021/Vol. No45

3. Surveillance & Laboratory

In the reported week (epidemiological week 53), in comparison to the previous epidemiological week, the number of
new weekly COVID-19 cases decreased by 18.5% (6,871 in week 53 and 8,435 in week 52) and the number of COVID-
19 new weekly deaths increased by 1.2% (174 and 172 respectively); overall Case Fatality Ratio (CFR) increase to 1.48
which was 1.46 last week.

As of 03 January 2021, among the reported cases 26.8% cases were confirmed in people between 30 and 39 years old,
19.7% in the age group of 40 to 49, 18.2% in 20 to 29 years and 16.5% in the age group between 50 and 59 years old,
12.5% in the age group 60 and above and 6.3% in the age group below 20 years. The highest death rate (31.5%) was
reported in the age group of 60 to 69 years old, 22.4% in the age group of 70 to 79, 21.2% in 50 to 59 years, 9.4% in
the age group 80 and above, 8.7% in 40 to 40 and remaining 6.8% in the age group below 40 years. Male represents
71% and 76% of the of total reported confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths respectively.

The figure below is showing Age-Sex distribution of COVID-19 case and death, 08 March 2020 – 03 January 2021,
Bangladesh

Cases Male Female Deaths

80 & over 0.7% 0.3% 7.1% 2.3% 80 & over
75 - 79 0.8% 0.3% 7.0% 1.9% 75 - 79
70 - 74 1.6% 0.5% 10.7% 2.7% 70 - 74
65 - 69 2.6% 0.9% 13.8%
10.7% 3.6% 65 - 69
60 - 64 3.5% 1.3% 10.8% 3.3% 60 - 64
50 - 59 12.0% 4.5% 16.0% 5.2% 50 - 59
40 - 49 14.4% 5.2% 6.4% 2.3% 40 - 49
30 - 39 20.1% 6.7% 2.8% 1.5% 30 - 39
20 - 29 12.1% 6.1% 0.8% 0.8% 20 - 29
15 - 19 1.7% 1.4% 0.2% 0.2% 15 - 19
10 - 14 0.8% 0.8% 0.2% 0.1% 10 - 14
5-9 0.6% 0.5% 0.0% 0.0% 5-9
0-4 71% 0.3% 0.2% 29% 76% 0.2% 0.1% 24% 0-4

50,000 30,000 10,000 0 10,000 1,600 1,200 800 400 0 400 800

The table below is showing distribution of COVID-19 case and death, 08 March 2020 – 03 January 2021,
Bangladesh

Cumulative Week 53
Division
Cases Death CFR (%) Cases Death CFR (%)
Dhaka 354,663 4,182 1.18 4,934 111 2.25
Chattogram 63,610 1,424 2.24 1,137 25 2.20
Khulna 24,882 532 2.14 133 9 6.77
Rajshahi 24,513 431 1.76 303 7 2.31
Rangpur 15,491 346 2.23 105 10 9.52
Sylhet 14,871 293 1.97 113 3 2.65
Barishal 10,403 241 2.32 97 2 2.06
Mymensingh 7,586 170 2.24 49 7 14.29
National 516,019 7,619 1.48 6,871 174 2.53

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WHO Bangladesh COVID-19 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Update (MMWU) 04 January 2021/Vol. No45

As of 03 January 2021, 68.7% of reported cases were from Dhaka division, 12.3% from Chattogram, Khulna and
Rajshahi – 4.8%, Rangpur – 3.0%, Sylhet – 2.9%, Barishal – 2.0% and the lowest 1.5% from Mymensingh division.
While, 54.9% of the reported death were from Dhaka division, 18.7% from Chattogram, Khulna – 7.0%, Rajshahi –
5.7%, Rangpur – 4.5%, Sylhet – 3.8%, Barishal – 3.2% and the lowest 2.2% from Mymensingh division.

The figures below showing the trend of COVID-19 Cases and Deaths, 04 May 2020 – 03 January 2021, Bangladesh

30,000

25,000

20,000
Number of Cases

15,000

10,000

5,000

0
16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 43 46 49 52
Epi-week
Dhaka Chattogram Khulna Rajshahi Rangpur Sylhet Barishal Mymensingh

350

300

250
Number of Deaths

200

150

100

50

0
16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 43 46 49 52
Epi-week
Dhaka Chattogram Khulna Rajshahi Rangpur Sylhet Barishal Mymensingh

The highest number of weekly cases (25,481) reported in epi–week 26 (22 – 28 JUN 2020) while the highest weekly
death (314) recorded in the following week 27 (29 JUN – 05 JUL 2020). Weekly cases increased in Rajshahi division by
28.9% and Barishal by 1%; while decreased in Mymensingh division by 47.9% followed by Rangpur – 40.3%, Sylhet –
36.9%, Khulna – 28.1%, Dhaka – 20.3% and Chattogram – 10.9% than last week.

As on 03 January 2021, overall attack rate (AR) in Bangladesh is 303 per 100,000 population and 100% (64/64) of
districts with the estimated total population of 170,306,468 have reported confirmed COVID-19 cases. In the reported
week (week 53), COVID-19 weekly average AR increased by 1.3% from the previous week (303 and 299 per 100,000
population respectively).

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WHO Bangladesh COVID-19 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Update (MMWU) 04 January 2021/Vol. No45

The table below is showing Attack rate per 100,000 by District, 08 March 2020 – 03 January 2021, Bangladesh

Dhaka Div. 8,230 Chattogram Div. 1,892 Khulna Div. 1,341 Sylhet Div. 1,279
Dhaka City 3,589 Chattogram 3,387 Khulna 2,582 Sylhet 2,151
Faridpur 365 Cox's Bazar 2,112 Narail 1,793 Sunamganj 847
Rajbari 274 Bandarban 1,923 Kushtia 1,623 Maulvibazar 816
Munshiganj 256 Rangamati 1,629 Jashore 1,415 Habiganj 781
Narayanganj 244 Noakhali 1,509 Chuadanga 1,234
Gopalganj 215 Cumilla 1,418 Jhenaidah 1,092
Gazipur 171 Feni 1,314 Magura 973
Shariatpur 138 Lakshmipur 1,136 Meherpur 963
Madaripur 120 Khagrachhari 1013 Bagerhat 577
Manikganj 108 Chandpur 933 Satkhira 492
Dhaka (District) 107 Brahmanbaria 833
Narsingdi 104
Kishoreganj 101
Tangail 88
Rajshahi Div. 1,124 Barishal Div. 1,057 Rangpur Div. 830 Mymensingh Div. 584
Bogura 2,395 Barishal 1,735 Dinajpur 1,277 Mymensingh 732
Rajshahi 1,899 Jhalokathi 1021 Rangpur 1,168 Jamalpur 657
Joypurhat 1,210 Barguna 968 Thakurgaon 927 Sherpur 342
Sirajganj 717 Patuakhali 936 Lalmonirhat 651 Netrakona 319
Natore 614 Pirojpur 882 Panchagarh 641
Pabna 541 Bhola 441 Nilphamari 611
Naogaon 503 Gaibandha 513
Chapainawabganj 405 Kurigram 409

Out of the total 516,019 COVID-19 cases registered as of 03 January 2021, 89.3% (460,598) recovered, 1.48% (7,626)
died and 9.26% (47,795) are active cases. In the epidemiological week 53, weekly average number of COVID-19 active
cases decreased by 7%, in comparison to the previous week (48,555 and 52,229 respectively); during the same time,
weekly recovery has decreased by 40.2% (8,637 and 14,434 respectively).

The figure below is showing trend of COVID-19 cases by Outcome, 15 March 2020 – 03 January 2021, Bangladesh

600,000
400 K Cases
+ 55 days
500,000
400 K Cases
Number of Cases (N=516,019)

+ 61 days
400,000
300 K Cases
+ 39 days
300,000
200 K Cases
+ 30 days
200,000
100 K Cases
103 days
100,000

0
29/03

22/11
15/03

12/04

26/04

10/05

24/05

07/06

21/06

05/07

19/07

02/08

16/08

30/08

13/09

27/09

11/10

25/10

08/11

06/12

20/12

03/01

Active Cases (n=47,795) Deaths (n=7,626) Recovered (n=460,598)

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WHO Bangladesh COVID-19 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Update (MMWU) 04 January 2021/Vol. No45

The map below is showing weekly growth rate of COVID-19 Cases by District and location of COVID-19 test
Laboratories, Bangladesh

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WHO Bangladesh COVID-19 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Update (MMWU) 04 January 2021/Vol. No45

As of 03 January 2021, according to the DGHS Press Release 3,260,327 COVID-19 tests were conducted in Bangladesh
with the overall positivity rate of 15.83% (7.6% in last 24 hours) by 180 laboratories. Two (2) laboratories with GeneXpert
test capacity (Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Manikganj 250 Bed District Hospital) and 11 more districts with Rapid
Antigen test facilities have been added to the network COVID-19 testing facilities.

As of 03 January 2021, test per case is 6.32 which indicates the number of tests required to identify 1 case.

The graph below is showing cumulative number of Samples tested and Positivity rate, 15 March 2020 –
03 January 2021, Bangladesh

3,500,000 35%
3 million Tests
+ 33 days 30%
3,000,000
2.5 million Tests
+ 38 days 25%
2,500,000
2 million Tests
+ 39 days 20%
2,000,000
1.5 million Tests 15%
+ 41 days
1,500,000
1 million Tests 10%
+ 33 days
1,000,000
500 K Tests 5%
99 days
500,000 0%

-5%
29/03
15/03

12/04

26/04

10/05

24/05

07/06

21/06

05/07

19/07

02/08

16/08

30/08

13/09

27/09

11/10

25/10

08/11

22/11

06/12

20/12

03/01
Cumulative Tests Cumulative Cases Overall +ve % Daily +ve % Daily Positivity (7DMA)

The graph below is showing temporal status of number of Laboratories and number of Tests, 12 April 2020 – 03
January 2021, Bangladesh

20,000 200
# Daily Tests Test Positive Active Labs # Labs

16,000 160
Number of Laboratories
Number of Tests

12,000 120

8,000 80

4,000 40

0 0
12/04

26/04

10/05

24/05

07/06

21/06

05/07

19/07

02/08

16/08

30/08

13/09

27/09

11/10

25/10

08/11

22/11

06/12

20/12

03/01

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WHO Bangladesh COVID-19 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Update (MMWU) 04 January 2021/Vol. No45

4. Points of Entry & Quarantine

According to DGHS, as of 03 January 2021, the current institutional quarantine capacity in the country is represented by
629 centres across the 64 districts, which can receive 31,991 persons. A total of 45,140 individuals were placed in
quarantine facilities and of them 42,166 (93.4%) have already been released. Over the same period, total of 96,656
individuals were isolated in designated health facilitates and of them 85,249 (88.2%) have been released.

5. Case Management and Infection Prevention & Control

According to DGHS, as of 03 January 2021, there are 10,495 general beds in the country of which 31.1% (3,269) in Dhaka
city and 602 ICU of which 51.5% (310) in Dhaka city dedicated for COVID-19 treatment. Presently 20.6% of the general
beds and 47.0% ICU beds are occupied all over the country.

The table below is showing a temporal comparison of COVID-19 dedicated facilities, week 52 and week 53, 2020,
Bangladesh

National Dhaka
03 JAN 2021 20 DEC 2020 Trend 03 JAN 2021 20 DEC 2020 Trend
General Beds 10,495 10,460  3,269 3,284 

Bed Occupancy 20.6% 25.5%  43.7% 55.1% 

ICU 602 568  310 286 

ICU Occupancy 47.0% 53.2%  59.4% 74.1% 

Oxygen cylinder 12,759 13,192 

High flow nasal cannula 719 667 

Oxygen concentrator 621 614 

6. Useful links for more information

• WHO Bangladesh COVID-19 Situation Reports:

https://www.who.int/bangladesh/emergencies/coronavirus–disease–(COVID-19)–update/coronavirus–disease–(covid–
2019)–bangladesh–situation–reports
• WHO Cox’s Bazar Situation reports:
https://www.who.int/bangladesh/emergencies/Rohingyacrisis/bulletin–and–reports
• COVID-19 Situation in the WHO South–East Asia Region:
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/56d2642cb379485ebf78371e744b8c6a
• WHO global Weekly Epidemiological Update and Weekly Operational Update:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel–coronavirus–2019/situation–reports
• WHO Bangladesh awareness and risk communication materials in Bengali:
https://www.who.int/bangladesh/emergencies/coronavirus–disease–(COVID-19)–update
• COVID-19 WHO Online Training modules: https://openwho.org/channels/COVID-19
• COVID-19 updates from the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,
Government of The People’s Republic of Bangladesh:
https://dghs.gov.bd/index.php/en/component/content/article?id=5393
• Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR):
https://iedcr.gov.bd/COVID-19/COVID-19–situation–updates

Contact: Dr Bardan Jung Rana, WHO Representative to Bangladesh, ranab@who.int

Hasan Mohiuddin Ahmed, NPO-Surveillance & Public Health Informatics, WHO-BAN, ahmedha@who.int
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