COVID-19 in India: Daily cases climb to 2.61 lakh, total tally surpasses 1.47 crore

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New Delhi: India registered a record 2,61,500 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, pushing the caseload in the country to 1,47,88,109.

With 1,501 COVID-19 fatalities in the past 24 hours, the death toll has now reached 1,77,150, as per Ministry of Health data on Sunday (April 18, 2021). 

The active cases in the country have breached the 18-lakh mark and currently stands at 18,01,316, with 1,28,09,643 total recoveries and 1,77,150 death toll. While 1,38,423 patients got discharged in a single day. 

The daily COVID-19 cases in India have doubled in the last 10 days. India registered 2-lakh new cases for the fourth day straight. On Saturday, 2.34 lakh COVID-19 cases were recorded which took the active count to 16.79 lakh. 

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 15,66,394 samples were tested on Saturday. Around 26,65,38,416 samples have been tested across the country till April 17.

12,26,22,590 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the country to date. From April 2, the government started vaccinating all people above 45 years. 

Taking stock of the situation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reviewed the availability and supply of ventilators, oxygen and medicines as the number of COVID-19 cases surged to a record high.

On Sunday, the PM will hold another COVID-19 review meet in Varanasi to tackle the alarming rise of coronavirus cases in his Parliamentary constituency.