Bengal on Sunday reported a rise for the fourth consecutive day in its total of active Covid-19 cases, by 1,403 to 17,651, as only 2,497 recoveries were logged against 3,984 new infections detected.

The state also recorded 84 deaths, including 15 in Calcutta and 20 in North 24-Parganas, the two worst-hit districts.

Though this was the first instance in 65 days since April 9 of fewer than 4,000 new infections in a day, the renewed rise in total active cases drew more attention.

Bengal’s recovery rate, which began declining on Friday to cause the 39-day spell of rise to snap, fell to 97.64 per cent. The national recovery rate is 95.24 now.

Calcutta logged 426 new infections, North 24-Parganas 597. The daily confirmation rate, which had peaked in the second wave with nearly 33 per cent, fell to 6.63 per cent on Sunday.

The state now has a total of over 14.61 lakh cases, since the first was reported on March 17 last year. The total includes 14.26 lakh recoveries, besides 16,896 deaths. Bengal’s overall mortality rate is 1.15 per cent, while the national rate is 1.25.