The Bengal government on Monday reported 54 new Covid-19 cases in the state, the highest 24-hour jump so far.

The total number of active cases stands at 245, following the recovery of 73 infected persons. State chief secretary Rajiva Sinha said the total number of deaths directly attributed to Covid-19 remained unaltered at 12.

A minister pointed out that in the 27-day period between March 18 — when the first Covid-19 positive case was reported in Bengal — and April 14, there were 120 active positive cases, and that the number has more than doubled in six days since.

“As many as 164 new cases were found from the slightly increased testing in those six days from Wednesday,” he said. Bengal has conducted 5,469 tests so far, with 424 in the past 24 hours.