Bengal on Friday reported a drop by 7,348 in total active Covid-19 cases, which fell to 1.09 lakh, as it reported 19,396 recoveries and 12,193 infections, besides 145 deaths.

Bengal now has 4.95 per cent of total active cases at national level and remains sixth on the list of states with highest number of patients currently under treatment.

In the past two weeks, the state for the first time in the peak of the second wave logged 2.48 lakh infections, compared to 2.68 lakh recoveries. Over these two weeks, the total active cases fell from nearly 1.32 lakh to around 1.09 lakh.

“This period has, more or less, coincided with the restrictions imposed to ensure the curb of the outbreak. So, there are indications that the restrictions were effective. In another couple of weeks, if these trends remain, we will be in a much better place,” said a minister. “Two weeks ago, we were reporting nearly 21,000 new cases a day. Today (Friday), it fell to barely 12,000. The daily positive confirmation rate was nearly 30 per cent two weeks ago. Today, it was around 20 per cent,” he added.

In a significantly positive indicator, the recovery rate rose for the 27th consecutive day, to 90.7 per cent.

Bengal’s total of Covid-19 cases, since the first was detected on March 17 last year, is over 13.43 lakh now, including 12.18 lakh recoveries and 15,120 deaths.

The state’s mortality rate is 1.12 per cent. Of the 145 deaths reported on Friday, 30 were in Calcutta and 43 in North 24-Parganas.

Calcutta logged 1,857 infections and North 24-Parganas 2,525 on Friday.

“The only area where we have not been able to see much improvement in the past two weeks is the daily death toll. There have been 2,127 deaths with 140-150 fatalities daily,” said the minister.

“Barely 45 per cent of these deceased people had comorbidities, compared to the 80-90 per cent in the first wave…. There’s also been a rise in the past two weeks in the number people in the 61-75 age bracket succumbing to the disease,” he added.