As the Covid-19 situation in the country continued to worsen, people are seen crowding in public places flouting health safety rules. Although some are seen wearing masks, none of them are maintaining social distancing as the country continues to battle against the pandemic. The photo was taken from Gulistan area on Sunday, June 20, 2021 Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka tribune

Experts have warned the pandemic could take a catastrophic turn in the wake of dramatic surge in infections

In the wake of a dramatic surge in infections, two-third of Bangladesh is now at very high risk of the coronavirus, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Its Weekly Morbidity and Mortality Update, released on June 21, flagged 40 districts as very high risk zones, 15 districts as high risk zones and six as moderately risky.

WHO identified the levels of risk based on a one-week (14-20 June) sample test and patient identification rate.

Bandarban district was not taken into consideration, as the cases detected there are low, it said.

The report flagged all of the 10 districts in Khulna division as at very high risk zones.

Seven districts in Dhaka division are at very high risk, it said before adding, two districts, including Dhaka, are at high risk while four others are at medium risk.

In Chittagong division, six districts, including Chittagong, are at very high risk, three flagged as high risk zones and one as moderately risky.

Out of the eight districts in Rajshahi division, six have been found at very high risk of Covid-19 while two at high risk.

In Rangpur division, five districts are at very high risk while three at high risk. Three districts in the southern division of Barisal has been found at high risk and as many at medium risk.

In Barisal division, three districts are at high risk and three at medium risk.

For the Sylhet and Mymensingh divisions, the Covid-19 cases and infection rates are still relatively low, says the weekly update by WHO.

The very high-risk districts are- Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Sherpur, Jamalpur, Tangail, Gazipur, Kishoreganj, Sylhet, Kushtia, Meherpur, Chuadanga Thakurgaon, Lalmonirhat, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Kurigram, Joypurhat,

Naogaon, Bogura, Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi, Natore, , Rajbari, Jhenidah, Magura, Faridpur, Jessore, Narail, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Barisal, Chandpur, Feni, Noakhali, and Khagrachhari.

Public health experts in Bangladesh have warned that the pandemic could take a catastrophic turn in the wake of rise in infections across the country, especially the border districts.

On Wednesday, the daily infection rate crossed 20%, up from 15% percent a week ago.

Over the last nine days, the rate has been more than the average 13.41 percent in the 15 months since the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country.

Single-day death toll hit the highest in 55 days on Wednesday, when 85 fatalities were reported. On April 29 this year, the country saw 88 deaths.

The caseload has reached 866,877 while the death toll now stands at 13,787.