Bengal’s total number of Covid-19 infections went past 1.29 lakh on Thursday with another highest single-day spike of 3,197 cases.

Of the 1.29 lakh cases, nearly 99,000 are recoveries and 2,634 are deaths.

The state also reported 3,126 recoveries and 53 deaths in the 24-hour period ending at 9am. Eleven persons died in Calcutta and 14 more in North 24-Parganas.

Bengal also reported 35,059 more tests, which took the total number of tests past 14.51 lakh, at 16,129 tests per million people.

“Our testing performance has improved substantially and we are working hard to complete 10 lakh tests in August alone,” said a minister. Bengal has conducted 5.58 lakh tests in August so far.

Owing to the sharp spike in new cases, the positive confirmation rate is now 8.89 per cent, which was 6.45 per cent a month ago.

Of the 3,197 new cases, Calcutta alone reported 583 and North 24-Parganas 747. But Calcutta reported 755 recoveries and North 24-Parganas 746, so their total number of active cases fell again.

“Since August 9, except for marginal deviations on one or two days, the total active cases of these two most high-incidence districts has been falling. On August 9, Calcutta had 7,041 active cases, North 24-Parganas had 5,774. Today, Calcutta has 6,238, while North 24-Parganas has 5,608,” the minister said. “As we get a grip on the outbreak in these two districts, we can replicate measures that worked here in other parts of the state such as north Bengal,” he added.

The share of these two districts in the total active cases fell since August 9 from 48.58 per cent to 42.77. The recovery rate of these two districts put together has gone up from 70.58 to 78.09 per cent in that time.

Bengal’s recovery rate now is 76.51, still ahead of the national rate of 74.12.

Of the total 2,634 deaths reported, Calcutta accounted for 1,132 so far and North 24-Parganas 610.

The state government reported 2,316, or 87.9 per cent, as deaths with comorbidity “present”. In one month, there have been 1,452 deaths of Covid-19 infected people, of which 1,324 were comorbid, according to the government.

Bengal’s overall mortality rate is now 2.03, still behind the national rate of 1.89 per cent. Calcutta’s mortality rate is 3.26.

The state reported 36.24 per cent occupancy in the 11,935 beds earmarked for Covid-19 in the 86 dedicated hospitals for the pandemic.

Telemedicine consultation for the pandemic was provided to over 1 lakh persons, including 4,437 in the past 24 hours.