The report also said 2,493 other infected patients were undergoing treatment in designated hospitals in the division till this morning.

Dr Gopendra Nath Acharya, Divisional Director of Health, said the death toll rose to 319, while no afresh in the last five days, with 193 in Bogura, 49 in Rajshahi including 29 in its city.

Besides, all the positive cases for COVID-19 have, so far, been brought under necessary treatment while 5,492 were kept in isolation units of different hospitals for institutional supervision. Of them, 4,956 have, by now, been released.

Meanwhile, with detection of 43 new more positive cases in five districts on Monday the total number of infected patients in the division now hit 20,847, Dr Nath said.

Of the new positive cases, the highest 20 were detected in Rajshahi including 10 in its city, followed by 10 in Bogura, seven in Sirajgonj, five in Pabna and one in Naogaon.

With the new detected cases, the district-wise break-up of the reported COVID-19 cases now stands at 5,116 in Rajshahi including 3,765 in city, 782 in Chapainawabganj, 1,321 in Naogaon, 1,033 in Natore, 1,126 in Joypurhat, 8,019 in Bogura, 2,241 in Sirajganj and 1,209 in Pabna districts.

On the other hand, a total of 26 more people have been sent to home and institutional quarantine afresh as part of efforts of bringing all the suspected people under quarantine while 157 others were released in the division during the period till 8am today.

A total of 60,777 people had, so far, been kept under quarantine since March 10 to prevent community transmission of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Of them, 59,333 have, by now, been released as they were given clearance certificates after completing their respective 14-day quarantine period in the division.

Following detection of new COVID-19 cases, the respective houses of the infected persons in different areas in the division were placed on 14-day lockdown according to the health safety guidelines.

Dr Nath said the whereabouts of the persons, who came in contact with COVID-19 patients, were identified and they were asked to remain in home isolation so that the virus cannot spread further.

He added that utmost emphasis has been given to bring all the suspected people under quarantine, isolation and testing.