Bengal on Friday reported a rise for the ninth consecutive day in total active Covid-19 cases, but logged less than 3,000 infections for the first time since April 8, 71 days ago.

On Friday, 2,112 recoveries were logged, against 2,788 infections, and 58 deaths were also recorded. On Friday, the total of active cases rose by 618 to reach 22,691.

“It is beginning to look up again. The recoveries will probably stay at this level for some time, but the daily infection count is expected to nosedive,” said a minister.

“The total of active cases will begin to fall, once again, when that happens,” he added.

The total of active cases had improved till June 9 by around 89 per cent from the all-time high of 1,32,181 on May 21. But over these nine days, it rose again by over 50 per cent.

Bengal now has 2.98 per cent of the national total of active cases and is eighth on the list of states with most number of patients under treatment.

The recovery rate, which began declining on June 11 snapping a 39-day spell of rise, fell to 97.3 per cent. The national recovery rate is 96.12 now.

The daily confirmation rate, which had peaked in the second wave with nearly 33 per cent, was 5.04 per cent on Friday.

Bengal’s overall mortality rate, with 17,240 deaths in total, is 1.16 per cent, while the national rate is 1.29.

Of the 58 deaths reported on Friday, 11 were in Calcutta and 15 in North 24-Parganas, the two worst-affected districts. Calcutta logged 287 infections and North 24-Parganas 388.