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Bangladesh has become the second country in Asia in terms of active Covid-19 cases posing a challenge to the country's healthcare facilities, officials said.
Active cases mean the patients who are yet to be recovered from the deadly viral infections, according to them.
With 2,686 new cases in the last 24 hours ending on Saturday morning, Bangladesh surpassed Pakistan and stood second with hosting more coronavirus patients after India in the continent.
According to Worldometer info on coronavirus till 6:00pm on the day, in Bangladesh, a total of 90,790 active patients have been receiving treatment for a new form of the respiratory disease.
In Asia, only India has more patients than Bangladesh with treating 285,436 coronavirus-infected people.
Pakistan moved down to the third position with 88,094 active cases while Saudi Arabia (61,309 active cases) and the Philippines (38,813 active cases) in the fourth and fifth place respectively.
Despite a lesser number of confirmed cases than that of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh has higher active cases because of the comparatively low recovery rate.
Directorate General of Health Services additional director general (administration) Prof Dr Nasima Sultana said a total of 11,193 samples were tested in 77 labs across the country since Friday morning.
With the tests, a total of 929,465 samples have been so far tested across the country.
Of them, some 2,686 samples were found Covid-19 positive along with 30 more deaths recorded across the country during the period, she said.
"With new ones, the overall tally of confirmed cases rose to 181,129," she said.
With 1,628 people getting recovered afresh, a total of 88,034 patients have already recovered while 2,305 others died of viral disease, she added.
"Now, the number of active cases is 90,790. Our healthcare professionals have been working relentlessly for the recovery of the patients and the recovery rate is increasing gradually, which is a good sign," Dr Nasima said.
According to the DGHS latest statistics, the recovery rate has gone past 48 per cent here.
It said thirteen of the latest deaths were recorded in Dhaka division, followed by ten in Chattogram, three each in Rajshahi and Khulna and one in Barishal divisions.
DGHS sources said 63,452 people now remain under home and institutional quarantine while 17,491 others in isolation.
Healthcare professionals see such a large number of active cases as a serious challenge for the country's healthcare system.
Director of Sheikh Russell Gastro Liver Institute and Hospital at Mohakhali Professor Dr Faruque Ahmed said their physicians and staff have been working hard for the quick recovery of the patients admitted there.
"Of course, it's a big challenge for the country's healthcare system. But the good thing is the recovery figure is getting wider," he added.
Globally, more than 11.6 million people have been infected with the novel coronavirus and 563,521 died until 7:00 pm on Saturday, according to Worldometer info on coronavirus.