COVID-19 surge: Mumbai Commissioner Iqbal Singh calls for a review meeting with chief officers of Municipality

Mumbai : Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal on Thursday called for an urgent meeting with chief officers of Municipality to take drastic steps in the view of rising number of COVID-19 cases in the city. Accordingly, restrictions have been imposed on gatherings at weddings, auditoriums, etc., or at public functions. The commissioner has stated that no more than 50 people can come together at a time for a public event. The commissioner also warned that strict action should be taken if other rules, including the use of masks, are not followed.

Meanwhile, 721 new coronavirus cases were reported in Mumbai on Wednesday. This was the highest number of cases in the last 42 days.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday called for an urgent meeting to review the situation of rising number of COVID-19 cases in the state. As per reports, the chief minister has called the meeting amid the surge of Covid cases in Yavatmal, Amaravati, Akola. Meanwhile, the state’s deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar has hinted at re-lockdown in several parts of the state.

The review meeting has been called two days after the chief minister had asked people to strictly follow government-mandated guidelines on masks and social distancing or be prepared to face another round of lockdown. Sources said that CM Thackeray and his deputy Ajit Pawar discussed the issue on Thursday morning and the step is likely to be taken accordingly.

Earlier, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) mayor Kishori Pednekar said that a lockdown may be imposed in Mumbai in upcoming days ‘if people don’t follow rules’.

“It’s a matter of concern. Most people traveling in trains don’t wear masks. People must take precautions else we’d head towards another lockdown. Whether lockdown will be implemented again, is in the hands of people,” Kishori Pednekar, Mumbai Mayor said on surge in COVID cases in the city. The state reported 4,787 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, the highest one-day count this year, after almost 70 days.