Bengal on Saturday set another 24-hour record for new Covid-19 cases with 1,344 reported till 9am.

Twenty-six Covid-19 patients also died across Bengal during that span.

However, the state also set a 24-hour record for Covid-19 recoveries, with 611, and for tests, with 11,403, all reported till 9am on Saturday.

Prior to Saturday, the highest recovery count was 595, on July 4, and the highest number of tests was 11,053, on July 3.

The state also crossed 6 lakh tests, 63 days after reaching the first lakh on May 19.

However, in just seven days, Bengal has had 7,312 new cases of Covid-19.

“Saturday was the 16th day in the ongoing spell of rising cases since June 26. The total number of cases has grown sharply to reach 28,453 now (including 17,959 recoveries). Just 16 days ago, it was 15,648,” said a minister.

“However, there have also been 7,769 recoveries in that period and over 1.66 lakh tests,” he added.

Of the total 906 deaths reported, 26 of them on Saturday, Calcutta alone accounted for 486, with 16 till 9am on Saturday. North 24-Parganas reported a total of 161 deaths, five on Saturday. Howrah reported 125, four on Saturday.

While Bengal’s overall mortality rate stood at 3.18 per cent, that of the city was 5.3. The national rate now is 2.67 per cent.

Of the 906 deaths, the state government reported 730 or 80.6 per cent as deaths with comorbidity “present”.

Bengal’s recovery rate fell to 63.11 per cent now from nearly 67 per cent even a few days ago. The national recovery rate is 63.06 per cent.

Of the new cases, around 80 per cent were from Calcutta and nearby populous districts. The city alone reported 412 infections, North 24-Parganas 327, South 24-Parganas 149, Howrah 130 and Hooghly 56.

“The rise (in Covid-19 infections) from the return of migrant workers and others from elsewhere is more or less behind us now. This is a different trend, confined largely to most urban belts of the state with immense population density,” said the minister.