India Coronavirus Dispatch: Rural India saw spate of deaths in May

R-value rises for first time in two months, over 330 Covid deaths in central police forces, and more-news relevant to India's fight against the pandemic

Over 37,154 fresh cases reported

India reported 37,154 fresh coronavirus infections on Monday, taking the cumulative caseload to 30.8 million, according to central health ministry data. The country had 724 deaths due to the pandemic, taking the overall toll to 408,764. The active caseload is at 450,899, while total recoveries have surged to 300.1 million. As many as 377 million vaccine shots have been administered since the nationwide inoculation programme kicked off on January 16. Of these, 1.2 million were given on Sunday. Read more here

India recorded 300,000 more deaths in May 2021 than the same