COVID-19: With 2.5 cr jabs in a day, India sets world record; 35K fresh cases reported

India administered the highest-ever single day vaccinations with 2.5 crore doses given in the last 24 hours. With this, the country surpassed the highest record set by China of inoculating the most number of people, 2.47 crore, in a day.

New Delhi:India reported 35,662 new cases and 281 deaths in 24 hours ending 8 am on Saturday, the Union Health Ministry said in a bulletin. With this, the total tally of active cases stands at 3,40,639 and the death toll at 4,44,529. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has increased to 3,26,32,222. As many as 33,798 people recovered in 24 hours, as per the bulletin.

With over 2.50 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses administered, India created a world record of the highest number of COVID jabs in a day on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 71st birthday on Friday. As per data available on CoWIN at 11:55 pm, India had administered nearly 2.49 crore vaccine doses. Meanwhile, the country also clinched, "World's Fastest Vaccine Drive" title by jabbing 466 doses per second on Friday.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya extended his greetings to the citizens of the country and termed the achievement as a "golden chapter" in history. "Congratulations India! India has created history on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday. By administering more than 2.50 crore vaccine doses, a golden chapter has been written in the history of the country and the world. Today's day was in the name of health workers," tweeted the minister in Hindi.

The country surpassed the highest record set by China of inoculating the most number of people, 2.47 crore, in a day.

According to the health ministry, 55,07,80,273 samples have been tested till September 17 of which 14,48,833 were tested on Friday.