NEW DELHI: The upward trend in COVID-19 cases continued unabated with India reporting 1,61,736 new infections and 879 deaths in the last 24 hours, registering a steady increase for the 34th day in a row, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

With the latest count, India's active COVID-19 cases stand at 12,64,698, while 1,22,53,697 people have recovered from disease so far. India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7 and the one-crore mark on December 19, 2020.

In terms of deaths due to COVID-19 infection, the 879 new fatalities include 258 from Maharashtra, 132 from Chhattisgarh, 72 each from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, 55 from Gujarat, 52 each from Karnataka and Punjab, 37 from Madhya Pradesh, 25 from Rajasthan, 19 each from Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand, 14 each from Haryana and West Bengal, and 11 each from Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.

According to the health ministry, India continues to administer the highest average vaccine doses per day. India’s cumulative vaccination coverage has exceeded 10.85 crore with over 40 Lakh doses given in the last 24 hours.

The ministry also said that with an aim to expand the basket of COVID-19 vaccines and enhance the pace of inoculation in India, the central government on Tuesday said it has fast-tracked emergency approval for foreign-produced jabs that have been granted similar clearances in other countries.