19,065 active Covid cases in Bengal -2,729 recoveries, 2,239 new infections and 42 deaths

The state on Friday reported 2,729 recoveries, 2,239 new infections and 42 deaths

With 42,355 tests on Friday, the state’s test count rose to 66.23 lakh, at 73,598 tests per million people: Shutterstock

Meghdeep Bhattacharyya   |   TT   |   Calcutta   |  19.12.20 :   Bengal on Friday reported 2,729 Covid-19 recoveries, 2,239 new infections and 42 deaths, as the recovery rate rose to yet another new high of 94.68 per cent.

The state logged a drop in total active cases for the 53rd consecutive day since Vijaya Dashami on October 26. The total fell by over 18,000 to 19,065 active cases currently, back almost to where it was on July 23, 148 days ago.

“We could well end the year with less than 17,000 active cases,” said a minister.

The recovery rate, rising for 57 consecutive days, has shown an improvement of over seven per cent. The national rate now is 95.42 per cent.

“Getting past the national rate will be in a matter of days now,” said the minister.

In these 53 days since the end of Durga Puja, the state has recorded over 1.94 lakh recoveries, outweighing the 1.78 lakh cases found.

The state now has a total of 5.32 lakh Covid-19 cases, including over 5.04 lakh recoveries and 9,277 deaths. Of Friday’s 42 deaths, 10 were from the city. The state’s mortality rate is now 1.74, compared to the 1.45 per cent nationally.

With 42,355 tests on Friday, the state’s test count rose to 66.23 lakh, at 73,598 tests per million people. The positive confirmation rate — the percentage of infections found in relation to the number of tests conducted — is 8.04 now, better than 8.27 of November 20.

Bengal reported 18.25 per cent occupancy in the 13,588 beds earmarked for Covid-19 in the 102 dedicated hospitals for the pandemic, besides over 5.37 lakh telemedicine consultations so far.