India on Monday recorded 1,61,736 new cases of COVID-19, the data released by the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday showed. 879 people died of the disease in the past 24 hours. With the new cases, the country’s total tally has reached 1,36,89,453 that includes 1,71,058 people who have died.

Also read: COVID-19 pandemic at ‘critical point’ as cases rise exponentially: WHO

There are 12,64,698 active cases in the country, while 1,22,53,697 have recovered.

25,92,07,108 samples have been tested for the novel coronavirus till April 12, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said. This includes 14,00,122 samples tested on Monday.

India started its coronavirus vaccination drive on January 16 and its three phases have since been launched. 

Also read: Here’s how to download your COVID-19 vaccination certificate

More than 10.8 crore people have received at least one dose of either of the two vaccines, Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and Oxford/ AstraZeneca’s Covishield, the health ministry announced on Monday.

India on Monday approved the emergency use of the Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V. The news came on a day when the country recorded 1,68,912 new COVID-19 cases, the highest single-day rise.