Lockdown will be imposed again if Mumbaikars don’t follow rules: Mayor Pednekar

Mumbai: A day after Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar asserted that the government might take strict action if coronavirus cases continue to rise, 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 travelling 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.

Earlier on Monday, the State Health Minister Rajesh Tope said that the “3T formula” of tracing, testing and treatment will have to be implemented strictly to tackle a rise in COVID-19 cases in some parts of Maharashtra. “Meanwhile, people also need to follow COVID-19 guidelines,” he added.

On Monday, Maharashtra registered a total of 3,365 fresh Covid-19 cases, overtaking Kerala. Maharashtra emerged at the top spot in the country again after 42 days of slump in the number of cases.

This was the highest number of cases detected in Maharashtra on a day since November 30. The state also reported 23 deaths. Its total caseload is now 20,67,643 and the toll 51,552. For the last six days in a row, the state has reported over 3,000 daily cases. As the number of cases rose, the BMC started deploying mobile Covid-19 testing vans in some pockets of Dharavi fearing a possible resurgence in infections.

Three states — Kerala, Maharashtra and Karnataka — cumulatively account for 77 per cent (76.5 per cent) of India’s total active cases, the Union Health Ministry said. Kerala, Maharashtra together account for 74.72 per cent of the total active cases.