Bengal logs highest one-day spike of 20,846 COVID-19 cases; 5 doctors among 139 fatalities

Kolkata: West Bengal on Friday registered its highest single-day spike of 20,846 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 10,94,802, the health department said in its bulletin.

The toll rose to 12,993 after 136 more people, including five eminent doctors, succumbed to the infection, the bulletin said.

North 24 Parganas district accounted for 42 deaths and Kolkata 34.

Of the 136 deaths, 67 were due to the comorbidities where COVID-19 was incidental.

The five doctors who lost their lives are well-known pathologist Dr Subir Kumar Dutta (90), renowned physician from Barasat, Dr Utpal Sengupta (in his 70s), surgeon Dr Satish Ghata (late 70s), Dr Sandipan Mandal (37) of Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital, and gynaecologist Dr Dilip Chakraborty.

At least 19,131 recuperated from the disease since Thursday, taking the total number of recoveries to 9,50,017.

The discharge rate stands at 86.78 per cent.