DHAKA, Bangladesh

Coronavirus cases in Bangladesh surpassed the 160,000 mark on Sunday, according to the latest update by the Health Ministry.

South Asia’s overcrowded country recorded 2,738 news cases in the last 24 hours, pushing the tally to 162,417.

It also registered 52 new casualties to bring the death toll to 2,052.

Bangladesh first recorded a virus case on March 8 while the first death was reported on March 18 after the novel coronavirus was first detected in China last December.

To stem the spread of the virus, Bangladeshi authorities imposed a two-month countrywide lockdown from March 26 to May 31. It was lifted on June 1 over economic interest and people’s needs amid the escalating spread of the virus.

The country is now divided into three zones -- red for high risk, yellow for medium-infected regions and white for no risk.

Country’s educational institutes, however, are still closed.

Infection among health workers tops 5,000

Meanwhile, infection among the front line health workers in the war against the disease has topped the 5,000 mark in Bangladesh, according to the apex body of the country's physicians.

Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) said in a statement on Sunday that at least 62 physicians died of COVID-19 since March 8.

Besides, at least 5,001 health workers, including 1,725 physicians, 1,351 nurses and 1,925 other health care staffers have been infected by the virus across the country, while some of them have recovered already and joined their service again, the statement added.

Dr. Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, the president of BMA, told Anadolu Agency that they are working with experts and the government to control the infection among health workers and to provide more health safety and security.

Also a member of the national technical committee on coronavirus, he observed that some patients hide that they are carrying the virus and have received treatment in hospital, which makes their job difficult and unsafe.