Positive cases in Bengal up by 24 ..... The death toll remained unaltered at 12

Meghdeep Bhattacharyya, TT, 20.04.20, Calcutta: Data released by the Bengal government on Sunday put the total number of active Covid-19 patients in the state at 198 with 24 new cases over the past 24 hours.

This is for the fourth consecutive day that there is a rise of 20-plus new cases in Bengal. The death toll remained unaltered at 12.

Four more infected patients were released following full recovery, taking the total number of cured Covid-19 cases to 66 in the state.

“Since the first Covid-19 positive case in Bengal on March 18 till Tuesday, we had 120 active Covid-19 positive cases. Since Wednesday — in five days — there have been 110 new cases. Between Thursday and Sunday, there were 20-plus cases reported daily,” said a government source.

“The total active cases stand at 198 because the figure excludes the 66 cured persons, the 12 who died directly for Covid-19 and others who tested positive but died from co-morbidities,” he added. “Bengal stands at a critical juncture now and there is no room for laxity or complacence.”

As of Sunday, the state had 5,045 samples tested — a rise of 2,522 in seven days — with 400-plus tests reported daily for the third consecutive day. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) approved the state’s 10th lab for Covid-19 tests, which is the Command Hospital in Calcutta’s Alipore.

“With each of 10 labs conducting 50 or more tests daily, we are looking at 500-plus tests a day from Monday. ICMR’s clearance is eagerly awaited for four others,” said a minister. The four laboratories he referred to are Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital, R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, Burdwan Medical College and Hospital and Bankura Medical College and Hospital.