Total active Covid-19 cases in Bengal on Tuesday rose for the sixth consecutive day by 1,125 to 20,046, as only 2,068 recoveries were logged against 3,268 new infections.

The state also recorded 75 deaths, including 21 from Calcutta and 23 from North 24-Parganas, the two worst affected districts. Of the infections, Calcutta logged 370 and North 24-Parganas 465.

The total of active cases had fallen to less than 20,000 on June 8, for the first time since April 9, and fallen from the all-time high of 1,32,181 on May 21by around 89 per cent till June 9, when there were 14,702 active cases in all. But over these six days, the number rose again by over 36 per cent.

“As this spell of renewed rise has lasted six days already, it appears it cannot be trivialised as an aberration. It needs prompt, incisive measures, which we are in the process of implementing,” said a minister. “It was a good decision to keep restrictions in place for another fortnight.”

Bengal now has 2.32 per cent of the national total of active cases and is eighth on the list of states with the most active cases. Only last week, it had fallen from sixth to 13th place in a matter of days.

The recovery rate, which began declining on Friday to snap a 39-day spell of rise, fell to 97.47 per cent. The national recovery rate is 95.76 now.

Daily confirmation rate, which peaked in the second wave with nearly 33 per cent, fell to 5.87 per cent on Tuesday.

Bengal’s overall mortality rate, with 17,049 deaths in all, is 1.16 per cent now, while the national rate is 1.28.