NEW DELHI: India reported its highest-ever single-day spike of COVID-19 cases with over 275,306 new cases and more than 1,600 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the latest updates collated by the Worldometer.

In the last 24 hours, 1,625 COVID-related deaths were reported in the country taking the death toll to 178,793. As many as 275,306 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in India in the last 24 hours.

With this, the total number of cases has gone up to 15,057,767. The active number of cases in the country stands at 1,930,126 while 1,28,09,643 have returned home after recovery.

According to the Worldometer, as many as 266,538,416 samples have been tested across the country till April 17.

Meanwhile, the cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country stands at 12,26,22,590 till Sunday. The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) approved the use of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine against coronavirus in the country on April 12.

Now, India has three vaccines Covishield, Covaxin, and Sputnik V for its inoculation program against COVID-19. From April 2, the government started vaccinating all people above 45 years. India started its vaccination drive on January 16 with priority given to all healthcare and frontline workers in the first phase.

The second phase started on March 1 where doses were administered to people above the age of 60 and those between 45 and 59 years with specific comorbidities. (ANI)