Mamata Banerjee said nearly 4,000 beds would be added to the existing total of around 11,000 to treat Covid-19 patients as Bengal logged a record number of infections at 1,690 on Thursday. The state also set the record for the highest number of tests in a day at 13,180.

Prior to Thursday, the highest new cases had been reported on Wednesday, with 1,589. The highest number of tests were 11,709 on Sunday.

As the rise in Covid-19 patients drew criticism from Opposition parties, the chief minister lambasted the BJP and a section of the media for allegedly focusing only on negative aspects in the state’s war against the pandemic.

Then she said: “Space (bed capacity) won’t come from the sky. Space has to be created from what’s available. We have not lagged behind in creating capacity, augmenting capacity. Private hospitals have also been increasing the Covid bed count.”

“At least 3,500 to 4,000 beds, we will increase,” she added.

With the 1,690 new cases reported till 9am, the state recorded 10,206 infections in just a week and 20,469 in three weeks since June 26.

Mamata said experts needed to rethink the hospital stay for Covid-19 patients who were doing better. “Now that the numbers are increasing, if patients remain positive but have recovered, then I think those cases should be reviewed by the doctors and decided on. Then some beds can be vacated for new patients to get admitted. It should not happen that I got a bed so I will stay admitted for a month-and-a-half, while four others in need are turned away because there is no space,” she added.

Of the new cases, over three-fourths were from Calcutta and four surrounding districts. The city alone reported 496 on Thursday, while North 24-Parganas logged 403.

In just 21 days since June 26, the city and its four neighbouring districts have reported 16,250 new cases, nearly half the state’s cumulative total of 36,117.

“Covid-19 cases on the rise globally, we are no exception…. The cure is yet to be found, the doctors are doing their best,” said Mamata.

“The Calcutta numbers do not comprise only the city’s residents. People come from all over to get admitted to Calcutta’s hospitals. Howrah too, similarly…. What we need to focus on is the total active cases (13,679 now),” she added.

The state reported 735 more recoveries till 9am, which took the total to 21,415.

“Our discharge (recovery) rate has fallen a little, from nearly 67 to 60-ish now (59.29 per cent on Thursday) because infections are more now, more are being kept in hospitals,” said the chief minister.

Bengal’s total test count is now 6,63,108, with 7,368 tests per million. But owing to the considerable rise in new cases, the positive confirmation rate deteriorated from 3.56 three weeks ago to 5.45 per cent.

With 23 deaths reported till 9am, the toll from Covid-19 rose to 1,023. Of them, 837 – 81.8 per cent – were reported as comorbid by the government.

Calcutta alone accounted for more than half of the total deaths with 537, a dozen of which were in the 24-hour period till 9am.

North 24-Parganas reported a total of 193 deaths, seven of them on Thursday. Bengal’s mortality rate is now 2.83, while that of Calcutta is 4.68 now.

“What about the US? What is the situation there now? In India, everyone talked about Vellore, Chennai, AIIMS. What is the situation? The US, France, the UK, Italy, Germany… what is the situation? We are so much better off here still,” said Mamata.

“People used to say with pride in the past that they come from the US, the UK, Germany…. Now they say they come from Bankura, Birbhum. They feel more proud to say that instead now,” she added.