India on Thursday recorded 46,164 new COVID-19 cases and 607 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per Health Ministry. The total infection tally stands at 3,25,58,530 whereas the death toll jumped to 436365. The country recorded 34,159 recoveries on Wednesday. The active cases stand at 3,33,725. 

Total samples tested up to August 25, 2021 – 51,31,29,378. Total samples tested on Wednesday (August 25) – 17,87,283. 

Also read: Johnson & Johnson bats for COVID vaccine boosters, says studies back it

Total vaccinated: 60,38,46,475 (80,40,407) in last 24 hours. 

The active cases comprise 1.03% of the total infections while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 97.63%, the ministry said.

India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. India crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23.

This spike of more than 8,500 cases was recorded as the cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country surpassed the 60-crore mark on Wednesday. 

“Under PM @NarendraModi ji’s #SabkoVaccineMuftVaccine initiative, India crossed the 60-crore vaccination mark. Congratulations everyone!” Health Minister Mandaviya said in a tweet.

India took 85 days to touch 10 crore vaccinations. It then took 45 days to cross the 20-crore mark and 29 more days to reach 30 crore, he said.

Also read: WHO sees dip in COVID-19 cases reported globally

The country took 24 days to reach 40 crore from 30 crore and then 20 more days to cross 50 crore vaccinations on August 6. It took 19 more days to go past the 60-crore mark, Mandaviya said.

The country launched vaccination for all people aged more than 45 years from April 1.

The government then decided to expand its vaccination drive by allowing everyone above 18 to be vaccinated from May 1.