Bengal on Thursday reported 3,196 Covid-19 cases and 62 deaths on one hand, and 3,014 recoveries on the other, taking the total number of patients past 2.37 lakh, of whom over 2.08 lakh recovered and 4,606 died.

Of the new cases, Calcutta reported 607 and North 24-Parganas, 632. “The five high-incidence districts (Calcutta, North and South 24-Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly) have once again started showing signs of a surge, with more new cases than recoveries, resulting in rise in active cases,” said a minister.

On Thursday, the five districts logged a net addition of 261 (new cases minus deaths and recoveries).

The minister stressed that “renewed intervention” would be necessary over the next four weeks. “We cannot afford to have a flare-up ahead of Puja,” he added.

Bengal has 25,221 active cases now, reporting a rise in total active cases for the 17th consecutive day.

Of the total 4,606 deaths reported, these five districts accounted for over 80 per cent. Calcutta alone reported 1,633, with 14 deaths on Thursday. With 20 more deaths, North 24-Parganas logged a toll of 1,031.

The state government reported 3,936, or 85.5 per cent, as deaths with co-morbidity “present”.

Bengal’s overall mortality rate remained at 1.93, substantially behind the national rate of 1.58 per cent. However, mortality rate in infected males improved in a month from 2.17 to 2.15, and in infected females from 1.69 to 1.56 per cent.

On the brighter side, Bengal’s recovery rate continued to rise, reaching 87.46 on Thursday, marking a rise by over 25 per cent in two months. The national rate now is 81.53 per cent.

On Thursday, the state also reported 43,432 tests, taking the total past 29.67 lakh, at 32,977 tests per million people.