Bengal logged 863 Covid-19 infections during the 24-hour window ending Saturday 9am, 1,443 recoveries and 28 deaths, including eight from Calcutta. The day’s number of new infections was the lowest in months but tests were also fewer on Saturday at 28,275.

Bengal also reported a drop in total active cases for the 68th consecutive day from 37,190 on Vijaya Dashami, October 26, to 11,008 now.

Bengal’s recovery rate has risen for 72 consecutive days by nearly 9 per cent since October 22 to 96.25 now, above the national rate of 96.13 per cent.

“Our year-end stellar spell has apparently stayed with us in the start of the New Year. We have undone six months of damage and hope we can continue on this path,” said a minister. “If so we will be well-placed for the vaccination phase,” he added.

Since Dashami, the state reported over 2.23 lakh recoveries and 2 lakh new infections. The state’s Covid-19 total of 5.54 lakh cases includes over 5.33 lakh recoveries and 9,766 deaths. Bengal’s mortality rate is now 1.76, compared to the 1.44 per cent nationally.