COVID-19: Nearly 4k cases on a single day, Bengal records high number of cases before Durga Puja

There have been 3,25,028 cases of COVID-19 in West Bengal so far (figures till October 19), with 3,992 new cases reported on October 19. This has been the highest number of cases in West Bengal so far on a single day. With Durga Puja to start in two days, people have been on a shopping spree, leading to a spike in cases and increasing the worries of the government and people alike. Many are found not wearing masks and not following social distancing. Public places – especially markets – are crowded. Officials say that the large gatherings may have led to the sudden increase in the number of cases being reported over the past one week.

There were 63 deaths in the last 24 hours, making the total COVID-19 deaths in the state reach 6,119. Right now, there are 34,584 active cases in the state. The discharge rate however, has remained more or less constant – at 87.48 per cent.

There were 43,619 tests done on a single day on October 19, and the state has been conducting more or less the same number of tests every day for the past few weeks.

“The situation is under control though, as the discharge rate indicates. But the administration has to be constantly alert to avoid things going out of hand,” said an official.