India records 2,67,334 new COVID-19 cases, 4,529 deaths in 24 hours

India recorded 2,67,334 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24
hours. The nation’s tally of COVID-19 cases now stands at 2,54,96,330. On Tuesday, 4,529 people died from COVID-19 across India, the death toll from coronavirus
infection in the country has now jumped to 2,83,248.

There are currently 32,26,719 active cases of COVID-19 in India. A
total of 389,851 people recovered from the coronavirus infection on Tuesday. The
tally of recovered COVID-19 cases in India now stands at 2,19,86,363.

Also read: Singapore refutes reports that new COVID-19 variant found in the country

The Indian Council of Medical Research on Wednesday said that 20,08,296 samples for COVID-19 were tested across the nation in the past 24 hours. As of
May 18, up to 32,03,01,177 samples for COVID-19 have been tested across India, the ICMR
said.

India kicked off its mass vaccination programme against
COVID-19 on January 16, starting with healthcare and frontline workers, and as
of May 18, 18,58,09,302 people have received at least the first dose of the COVID-19
vaccine.

Also read: 1.8% of India’s population hit by COVID, 98% still vulnerable: Centre

On May 14, India administered its first foreign-made vaccine
dose of Russia’s Sputnik V. The first batch of Sputnik V reportedly contains
about 150,000 doses, each jab in it costing Rs 948 alongside 5% of GST.