Malda district recorded 53 fresh infections and Darjeeling district 73 in the last 24 hours, 45 in Siliguri alone, the spike in figures proving to be a source of worry.

BJP MLA from Baishnabnagar in Malda, Swadhin Sarkar, also tested positive and was advised home quarantine.

A health official said that around 1,100 persons in Malda got infected, but 715 patients recovered. “There are 374 active Covid-19 cases in Malda and seven deaths,” he added.

With 73 new cases, Darjeeling has 877 infections in all.

South Dinajpur reported 21 new infections in the last 24 hours, 304 in all.

Forty-two persons were infected in Jalpaiguri in the last 24 hours, 22 in Binnaguri army cantonment, and 514 in all. Alipurduar had 13 cases in 24 hours, 207 in all. Cooch Behar had 19 positive cases in the last 24 hours, 356 in all.

In Sikkim, four fresh cases were reported in 24 hours, bringing the total to 151.