India's COVID-19 Cases Cross 70 Lakh, Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan Warns ‘No Religion Or God Asks To Celebrate Festival In An Ostentatious Way’

India has crossed a "landmark milestone", the government said on October 11 as the country reported 60 lakh recoveries from COVID-19, which has affected more than 70 lakh people in the country, taking it closer to overtaking the United States which currently has over 76 lakh cases. With 74,383 new infections, India's coronavirus tally now stands at 70,53,806, the data released by the Health Ministry showed. Over the last 24 hours, India reported 918 deaths linked to the virus, taking the total number of fatalities to 1,08,334. For the third day in a row the active cases of COVID-19 remained below nine lakh. Maharashtra and four southern states - Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu -- reported the most number of cases, as per the data. Maharashtra, the worst-affected state, reported 11,416 new cases, taking tally to 15,17,434 & over 40,000 people have died in the western state so far. Meanwhile, preparations already on for the festive season, Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on October 11 gave the people a reality check. With Durga Puja, Dussehra, Diwali and Chhath Puja around the corner, there is concern about Covid numbers spiking as people drop the use of all safety norms. "No religious leaders of any religion say that festivals should be celebrated by putting lives in danger... no Gods say you need to go to big pandals to pray. If you know there is fire outside and you still go out in the fire in the name of religion -- what's the point of such festivals," the minister said. Dr Harsh Vardhan also said that presently COVID-19 vaccines are in various stages – phase 1, 2 and 3.