Bangladesh today reported 18 new cases of coronavirus, the highest daily increase since the outbreak began here, bringing the national total to 88.

The new patients were found after conducting 367 coronavirus tests in last 24 hours.

"One more person, a 55-year-old male of Narayanganj, has died from the virus, raising the death toll to nine. Three patients have cured and went home in the last 24 hours," Health Minister Zahid Malik made the disclosure in a virtual press briefing today.

"Coronavirus testing process has been expanded across the country. Globally Gene expert machine and Hexacloroquin are expected to be used in covid-19 treatment, we are also prepared to provide it for coronavirus patients," he added.

Replying to a reporter's question regarding workers gathering posing risk of virus spread, the minister said, "The Industries Ministry should have controlled the situation. Health Ministry cannot decide on the matter."

He also thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for announcing stimulus packages to fight the impact of the virus.

Professor Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora, director of Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) said, "IEDCR conducted 367 coronavirus tests in last 24 hours and 18 were diagnosed with the virus."

Dr Flora again said, "33 people have recovered in last 24 hours. At present 46 are active patients among whom, 32 are receiving treatment in different hospitals and 14 from home."

"Among the newly detected patients, 13 were found in IEDCR tests and five in different hospitals. 15 of them are male and three female. 12 of the new patients are from capital's Mirpur, five from Narayanganj and one from Madaripur. While Basabo area is also at high risk as we have found a virus cluster in the area," she added.

"The virus in now in cluster-based transmission level in the country," the IEDCR director said further.

She also said currently coronavirus tests are being done by 14 health organisations.

Professor Abul Kalam Azad, director general of the Health Directorate, said, "New 10 people have been put in isolation units and at present total 84 people are in isolation units of different hospitals in the country."

"219 people returned home from different countries around the world in the last 24 hours. All of them went through screening tests in the airport," he said.

The director general also said, "Five virus clusters have been identified in the country. The areas are- Dhaka's Tolarbag and Basabo, one each in Gaibandha, Narayanganj and Madaripur."

Globally, 1,203,923 people have so far got infected with the highly contagious coronavirus and 64,795 have died from it, according to Johns Hopkins University data.