Bengal on Thursday saw 2,997 new Covid19 infections, the highest in a day, and 56 deaths.

The state also tested 30,032 people, the highest in a day so far, and clocked a recovery rate of 73.25 per cent, above the national rate of 70.97. In all, the state has over 1.07 lakh cases, of which nearly 79,000 are recoveries and 2,259 are deaths.

A minister pointed to a dip in active cases in highincidence districts Calcutta and North 24Parganas.

Of the new infections, though 666 cases were from Calcutta and 582 from North 24Parganas, they reported 687 and 683 recoveries and their tally of active cases fell. “On Sunday, Calcutta had 7,041 active cases and North 24Parganas 5,774. Today, Calcutta has 6,598 and North 24Parganas 5,427,” the minister said.

The minister said that they had crossed the 30,000 milestone in daily testing. “This is quite an achievement. We will now push for 40,000,” he said.

“We also crossed the 12 lakh tests milestone (12,16,955 on Thursday), covering the latest lakh in just four days. The next target is covering the next lakh in three days,” he added.

Bengal’s testspermillion count is now 13,522, which was 9,927 even at the beginning of August.

After achieving the first lakh on May 19, Bengal went past 12 lakh in 86 days. In the 13 days of August, Bengal conducted nearly 3.24 lakh tests.

Of the total 2,259 deaths reported, Calcutta alone accounted for 1,015, with 16 on Thursday. North 24Parganas 524 deaths, 12 of them on Thursday.

The state government reported 2,005, or 88.8 per cent as deaths with comorbidity “present”.

In August alone, there have so far been 678 reported deaths of Covid19 infected people, of which 637 were comorbid, according to the government.

Bengal’s overall mortality rate improved to 2.1, but lagged behind the national rate of 1.95 per cent. Calcutta’s mortality rate fell to 3.33 per cent.

The state reported 35.8 per cent occupancy in the 11,775 beds earmarked for Covid19 in the 84 dedicated hospitals for the pandemic, beside 15.92 per cent in 11,507 beds of the 200 safe homes.

Telemedicine consultation for the pandemic has been given to over 66,000 people, including 3,720 in the 24hour window till Thursday 9am.