NEW DELHI: India on Monday reported 34,113 fresh coronavirus infections that took its tally to 4,26,65,534, while active cases dropped below 5 lakh after around 37 days, according to Union health ministry data.
Daily COVID-19 cases have remained below 1 lakh for eight consecutive days now.
The death toll climbed to 5,09,011 with 346 more fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated.
The number of active cases has declined to 4,78,882, comprising 1.12 per cent of the total infections.
The national COVID-19 recovery rate has further improved to 97.68 per cent, the ministry said.
A reduction of 58,163 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.
The daily positivity rate was recorded at 3.19 per cent.
The weekly positivity rate stood at 3.99 per cent, the ministry said.
The number of people who have recuperated from the viral disease has surged to 4,16,77,641.
The case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent, it said.
The cumulative doses administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive have exceeded 172.95 crore.
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, 2021, and three crore on June 23.
The 346 new fatalities include 146 from Kerala and 27 each from Karnataka and West Bengal.
Of the 5,09,011 deaths reported in the country so far, 1,43,404 were from Maharashtra, 62,199 from Kerala, 39,640 from Karnataka, 37,915 from Tamil Nadu, 26,072 from Delhi, 23,398 from Uttar Pradesh and 21,017 from West Bengal.
The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.
"Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research," the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.
Over 70 per cent of India's adolescents in the 15-18 age group have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine so far, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Sunday.
He also appealed to all those in this age group who are eligible for vaccination to get inoculated at the earliest.
"Young India further strengthening the world's largest vaccination drive. Over 70% of our youngsters between 15-18 age group have received their 1st dose of COVID19 vaccine," Mandaviya said.
"I appeal to all eligible young friends to get vaccinated at the earliest," he added.
Health ministry data showed over 1.47 crore beneficiaries in the 15 to 18 age group are fully vaccinated.
With the administration of more than 49.16 lakh doses in a span of 24 hours, the cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country have exceeded 172.81 crore, according to provisional reports till 7 am.
The estimated population of beneficiaries in the 15-18 age group is 7.4 crore for 2021-22, according to the Registrar General of India.
Vaccination of children aged between 15 and 18 began from January 3 across the country.