Bengal on Saturday logged 7,682 new Covid-19 infections, less than half the 16,146 recoveries, to register a drop in its total of active cases by 8,582.

The total of active cases, which was at an all-time high of 1,32,181 on May 21, is 44,441 now, having improved by over 66 per cent in these 15 days.

Bengal now has 3 per cent of the national total of active cases, and is eighth among states with most such cases.

“We are decidedly past the second wave’s peak,” said a minister.

There were 118 deaths reported on Saturday. Bengal now has a total of 14.19 lakh cases, which includes 13.58 lakh recoveries and 16,152 deaths.

Bengal’s recovery rate rose for the 35th consecutive day, rising by nearly 11 percentage points to 95.73 per cent on Saturday. The national rate now is 93.61.

“We are sixth on the list of states with most people (1.2 crore) vaccinated with at least one dose, and third among states with most people (39.3 lakh) fully vaccinated. Despite the Centre’s many blunders in vaccination, we managed to give at least one dose to 12 per cent of our huge (state) population, and around 4 per cent of our population are fully vaccinated,” added the minister.

Daily confirmation rate, which had peaked in the second wave to nearly 33 per cent, fell to 11.57 on Saturday.

A decreasing positive confirmation rate is indicative of reducing levels of Covid-19 spread.

Bengal’s overall mortality rate is 1.13 per cent, while the national rate is 1.2.

Of the 118 deaths reported on Saturday, 23 were reported from the city and 28 from North 24-Parganas, the two worst affected districts. While Calcutta logged 796 new infections, North 24-Parganas reported 1,664.