Bengal on Friday reported 319 new Covid-19 infections (including 38 from Calcutta), a three-digit figure for 12 consecutive days since numbers spiked in the third wave. The state also logged 1,346 recoveries and 13 deaths, including four in Calcutta, resulting in a drop in active cases by 1,040 to 7,736.

In a significant achievement, positive confirmation rate — the percentage of samples testing positive — is 0.90 per cent now, below 1 for the first time this pandemic. The first ever Covid-19 case was detected in Bengal on March 17, 2020, out of 69 samples tested that day, with a positive confirmation rate of 1.45.

“This is a landmark of triumph for us, an exemplary achievement for a state with a population of over 10 crore this deep in the pandemic,” said a minister.

For 21 consecutive days, positive confirmation rate is below 5 per cent in a 24-hour period in Bengal. Deemed a crucial indicator in the pandemic, a positive confirmation rate of up to 5 per cent is considered tolerable. On January 10, the positive confirmation rate had reached an all-time high for the state at 37.32.

“On January 10, two out of every five samples tested in the state returned positive. Today, one out of every 111 samples tested returned positive. The numbers speak for themselves,” said the minister.

The recovery rate improved for 33 consecutive days to reach 98.57 per cent now. The national rate is 98.12 now.

In the 33 days, the state reported 2.66 lakh recoveries, which outweighed the 1.15 lakh new infections detected.

Eighteen of the state’s 23 districts reported zero deaths. The mortality rate is 1.05 per cent now.

Bengal has close to 20.13 lakh cases now, since the first was detected in the state in March, 2020. The total includes nearly 19.84 lakh recoveries and 21,107 deaths.