New Delhi, May 24 (IANS): With 4,454 new deaths due to Covid-19, India on Monday crossed the three-lakh mark of fatalities due to coronavirus infections, thus becoming the world's third country after the US and Brazil to cross three-lakh deaths.

On Monday, with 2,22,315 fresh cases in 24 hours, India witnessed the lowest rise in infection since April 21, according to the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry.

India's overall tally of Covid-19 cases now stands at 2,67,52,447 with 27,20,716 active cases and 3,03,720 deaths so far.

In the last 12 days India has recorded over 50,000 deaths.

According to the Health Ministry, a total of 3,02,544 people have been discharged in the last 24 hours, with 2,37,28,011 being cured of Covid to date.

The Health Ministry said that a total of 19,60,51,962 people have been vaccinated so far in the country, including 9,42,722 who were administered vaccines in the last 24 hours.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 33,05,36,064 samples have been tested up to May 23 for Covid-19. Of these 19,28,127 samples were tested on Sunday.

India registered record deaths due to Covid on Wednesday with 4,529 deaths -- the highest number of fatalities from Covid infection in any country since the coronavirus outbreak was reported in China's Wuhan in December 2019.

It surpassed 4,468 deaths in the US on January 12, and earlier 4,211 in Brazil on April 6. These three are the worst hit by the pandemic. Now, India is behind the US and Brazil with the highest deaths due to Covid-19.

After battling a brutal second wave for weeks, fresh Covid cases came down below the three lakh mark for the first time on May 17 after touching a record high of 4,14,188 on May 7.