Bengal on Wednesday reported 976 new Covid-19 infections, 837 recoveries and 15 deaths, resulting in a rise by 124 in its active cases to 7,973.

Bengal now has 5.02 per cent of the national total of active cases, or Covid patients under treatment, and is fifth among states with the most such numbers.

In the 32 days since Bengal snapped out of a 97-day streak of constant fall in active cases ahead of the Puja season on September 26, there has been a net rise of 299 in the state’s total active cases, from the 7,674 of September 25.

A minister said new infections reported on Wednesday were indicative of people who got infected between October 18 (Troyodoshi) to 22 (three days after Lakshmi Puja).

Calcutta reported 272 new infections and four deaths on Wednesday. North 24-Parganas reported 159 new infections and three deaths. These were the only two of the state’s 23 districts with a three-digit figure of new cases found. Seven districts reported a single-digit figure. Eighteen districts reported zero deaths.

Calcutta, North and South 24-Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly and Nadia, which accounted for 707 or 72.44 per cent of the new infections detected on Wednesday.

The state’s recovery rate is 98.3 per cent now, while that of India is 98.16. Its daily positive confirmation rate, nearly 33 per cent at the peak of the second wave, was 2.25 per cent on Wednesday. The state’s mortality rate is 1.2, while that of the nation is 1.33 per cent.

Bengal now has more than 15.89 lakh Covid-19 cases, since the first was logged in March last year. The total includes nearly 15.62 lakh recoveries and 19,096 deaths.