Covid cases jump by 3,992 in a day

This was the 16th time in October that the record for the highest 24-hour rise was reset in Bengal significantly higher than the national average.

Meghdeep Bhattacharyya   |   TT   |  Calcutta   |   20.10.20  :  Bengal logged another high in daily spike with 3,992 new Covid-19 cases on Monday, a day Calcutta High Court stepped in with a landmark no-pandal-entry order aimed at preventing the pandemic in Bengal from spiralling out of control amid the festivities.

This was the 16th time in October that the record for the highest 24-hour rise was reset.

Bengal’s total novel coronavirus cases went past 3.25 lakh. It includes 2.84 lakh recoveries and 6,119 deaths. Bengal also reported 3,272 recoveries and 63 deaths on Monday. Eighteen died in Calcutta and 10 in North 24-Parganas.

“The high court ruling, if implemented properly and adhered to by the masses, will possibly avert a major crisis,” a minister said. “From here, we are probably looking at a daily rise in numbers of 5,000 or so, because of the Puja. Not anything beyond that, which was being estimated before the (high court) order.”

He admitted that October “has been relentless for us”.

In the 19 days of the month so far, the state recorded nearly 68,000 new cases and 58,000 recoveries. In the same period, the total active cases rose from around 26,000 to over 34,000 now. There have been 1,161 deaths in these 19 days.

The recovery rate is now 87.48 per cent, behind the national recovery rate of 88.37. Till recently, Bengal’s recovery rate was significantly higher than the national average.

Of the total 6,119 deaths reported so far, the state government reported 5,172, or 84.5 per cent, as comorbid. Bengal’s mortality rate is now 1.88, the national rate is 1.51 per cent.

Visva-Bharati cases

At least 17 persons in Visva-Bharati tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday after over 100 persons in the varsity underwent rapid antigen tests. The offices of the vice-chancellor and registrar are shut.

Additional reporting by Snehamoy Chakraborty in Santiniketan