Correspondent
KOLKATA, July 31 2020 (HS): With the altogether 45 patients succumbing in coronavirus pandemic in West Bengal Friday to take the total number of deaths in the state to 1,581 by this evening, a record number of another 2,496 people tested positive during the last 24 hours,
Informing this the latest Medical Bulletin issued by the state Health department here this evening said in the wake of an unabated surge in infection among a record number of 2,496 people in one day, the total number of those affected by Corona virus in Bengal so far crossed the 70,000 mark to touch the figure of 70,188 this evening, up from 67,692 yesterday, projecting a grim scenario.
Among today's 45 deceased, 25 were the residents of Kolkata and 16 were from North 24 Parganas and Howrah, while the rest were from other districts of South and North Bengal,the Bulletin said.
Of the record number of 2,496 new Covid cases in one day in the state, the maximum 1028 were from Kolkata alone, followed by those from other districts.
Meanwhile, the total number of active infections in different hospitals once again surged by a record number of 333 today to take their total number to over 20,000 to reach 20,233 mark from 19,900 barely 24 hours ago.
In this present grim situation the total number of daily Covid tests in the state has,however, further increased to cross the 19,000 mark to touch the figure of 19,003 today from18,042 yesterday taking their total number to 8,93,400 today from 8,74,397 yesterday, the Bulletin said
Similarly, the rate of recovery of Covid-19 patients in West Bengal during the day slightly jumped to 68.92 per cent today from 68.33 per cent yesterday, compared to the national average of over 67 per cent.
Altogether 2,118 people were discharged from different hospitals and safely returned home today,the Bulletin said adding so far altogether 48,374 people, up from 46,256 people, yesterday, were able to return home after recovery.