India recorded 2,63,533 new cases of COVID-19 in the past
24 hours. The nation’s tally of COVID-19 cases now stands at 2,52,28,996. On Monday, 4,329 people died from COVID-19 across India, the death toll from coronavirus
infection in the country has now jumped to

2,78,719.

There are currently 33,53,765 active cases of COVID-19 in India. A
total of 422,436 people recovered from the coronavirus infection on Monday. The
tally of recovered COVID-19 cases in India now stands at 2,15,96,512.

Also read: Gaza’s only COVID lab rendered out of action after Israel strikes: Ministry

The Indian Council of Medical Research on Tuesday said that 18,69,223 samples for COVID-19 were tested across the nation in the past 24 hours. As of
May 17, up to 31,82,92,881 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 17, 184,453,149 people have received at least the first dose of the COVID-19
vaccine.

Also read: Pfizer’s COVID vaccine can be stored in fridge for a month: EU’s drug agency

On Friday, 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.