India’s COVID-19 tally on Friday reached 1,18,46,652 with 59,118 new
cases of coronavirus recorded in the past 24 hours, according to the Ministry
of Health and Family Welfare’s latest data. A total of 257 deaths were
registered on Thursday. The total number of coronavirus-induced deaths has now
reached 1,60,949.

According to the health ministry’s data, there are 4,21,066 active COVID-19 cases in the country, while 1,12,64,637 have recovered.

Also read: Migrant crisis, economic recession: Challenges India faced due to COVID-19

A total of 23,86,04,638 samples were tested for COVID-19 up to March
25, 2021. Of these, a total of 11,00,756 samples were tested on Thursday.

According to the health ministry, 5,55,04,440 inoculations have been
done in the country till Thursday.

As per a report by Reuters, India temporarily banned all
major exports of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 shots, produced by Pune-based Serum
Institute of India.

The move would also affect supply of vaccines to the
international COVAX facility, which acts as a source for various middle to
lower income nations to procure the shot.

Also read: EU warns export ban on AstraZeneca vaccine amid shortage in supply

India has emerged as the second worst-hit country by the
virus, the first being the United States.

India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on
August 7, 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, 80 lakh on
October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December
19.