Pfizer Inc yesterday said final analysis of its antiviral Covid-19 pill still showed near 90% efficacy in preventing hospitalisations and deaths in high-risk patients, and recent lab data suggests the drug retains its effectiveness against the fast spreading Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Getting an initial course of Covid-19 vaccines to unprotected groups all over the world should remain a top priority before offering booster shots to vulnerable groups, World Health Organisation (WHO) Emergency Director Mike Ryan said yesterday.

Covid-19 poses eight times higher risk of adverse maternal outcomes for pregnant women, a recent study found.

A two-dose Pfizer/BioNTech vaccination provides just 33% protection against infection by the omicron variant of the coronavirus, but 70% protection against hospitalization, according to a large-scale analysis in South Africa released Tuesday.

Forty dengue patients were hospitalised in 24 hours till 8:00 am today, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Three people died from Covid-19 in 24 hours till 8am today, said a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Covid-19 infection poses eight times higher risk of adverse maternal outcomes in pregnant women, a recent study found.

China has reported its first case of the fast-spreading Omicron coronavirus variant, state media said Monday.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed the authorities concerned to work on a precise guideline on the booster dose of Covid-19 vaccine amid the threat of Omicron variant and asked all to remain very careful about Omicron.

With each passing day, the number of dengue patients in the port city has been increasing across different government and private hospitals in the current month.

Bangladesh received 40 lakh doses of AstraZeneca vaccines from the UK under the COVAX facility today.

At least one person has died in the United Kingdom after contracting the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday, warning that the variant now accounted for 40% of infections in the British capital.

At least 42 dengue patients were hospitalised in 24 hours till 8:00 am today, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Three people died from Covid-19 in 24 hours till 8am today, according to a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

The Cabinet today directed the authorities concerned, particularly the health minister and the National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19, to work on a precise guideline over the campaign of booster dose of Covid-19 vaccine in Bangladesh.

The National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) on Covid-19 has recommended Covid-19 vaccine booster dose for frontline workers and those aged 60 and above, who have received the second jab at least six months ago.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday warned of a looming "tidal wave" of Omicron, and brought forward a target to give over-18s a booster jab by one month to the end of December.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday and was receiving treatment for mild symptoms, the presidency said in a statement.

The Omicron coronavirus variant is more transmissible than the Delta strain and reduces vaccine efficacy but causes less severe symptoms according to early data, the World Health Organization said Sunday.

More than half a billion people globally were pushed into extreme poverty last year as they paid for health costs out of their own pockets during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization and the World Bank said yesterday.