In a radio address Sunday, India Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a call for the country to remain “extra vigilant” against the COVID-19 threat after recently recording 48,661 new cases over a 24-hour span.

"We have to remember that coronavirus is still as dangerous as it was in the beginning," he said.

India, which has an estimated population of 1.3 billion, was placed under strict lockdown restrictions on March 25 despite a relatively low number of coronavirus-related cases and deaths. Reported cases began to rise after restrictions were eased on May 30. India has 1,385,685 confirmed coronavirus cases and 32,063 deaths, according to reports Sunday.

Modi noted that in "many places, [COVID-19] is spreading fast."

One area that has been hit hard is New Delhi, India's capital. A recent study conducted by India's National Center for Disease Control suggested that actual infections in New Delhi were far higher than the number of confirmed cases. Nearly one in four city residents has been infected with COVID-19.

Modi also expressed satisfaction with how India has defied expectations.

"The way Indians came together to fight against coronavirus in the last few months, we have proved the world wrong," he said.

Reuters reported Sunday that the Indian government said 36,145 patients had recovered from the virus and been discharged in the last 24 hours -- a record for single-day recoveries.

Modi has an 82% public approval rating, according to U.S.-based pollster Morning Consult.

Coronavirus India