Saturday’s numbers showed yet another 24-hour record jump in new Covid-19 cases with 2,198, cures with 1,286, and tests with 13,465, a day the Mamata Banerjee government held a news meet, spearheaded by chief secretary Rajiva Sinha, to assuage people’s fears.

The 27 deaths reported in 24 hours till 9am on Saturday equalled the record set on July 9. Of the 1,076 deaths reported since the onset of the pandemic, Calcutta accounted for 561, with a dozen in 24 hours till Saturday 9am. North 24-Parganas reported 204 deaths, four in the 24-hour window.

In seven days, Bengal logged 11,756 new cases. In 23 days since June 26, when this ongoing spell of rise began, the state has had 24,561 new cases.

The state’s total cases are now past 40,000, with 40,209. The total active cases are now 15,594 and recoveries 23,539.

“Please look at the progression in other states, in other countries. Nothing here is alarming…,” insisted Sinha, as the recovery rate plunged from the July 4 high of 66.72 to 58.54 per cent. The national rate is now 62.91.

Of the 2,198 new cases, three-fourths were reported from Calcutta and four populous surrounding districts. Calcutta alone reported 648.

North 24-Parganas reported 554.

The state’s test count is 6,89,813 — with 7,665 tests per million — and estimates getting past 7 lakh by Sunday.

Sinha said the state plans to double the daily testing from around 13,000 now in a month.

Owing to the sharp spike in new cases, the positive confirmation rate – the percentage of people found infected among those tested – deteriorated drastically since June 26, from 3.56 to 5.83 per cent.

Out of 1,076, the state government reported 889, or 82.6 per cent, as deaths with co-morbidity “present”.

Bengal’s overall mortality rate improved to 2.67, from 3.87 per cent on June 26. Calcutta’s mortality rate is 4.42 now. The national rate now is 2.5 per cent.

“Death rate here was an issue earlier. Now, it is… very close to the national rate,” said Sinha.

Nearly 7.23 lakh people successfully completed quarantine. Barely 33,000 now remain in quarantine.