Maharashtra reports nearly 9,000 new Covid cases, 80 deaths in last 24 hrs

Maharashtra on Wednesday reported 8,807 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total infection count to 2,121,119, according to the state health department.

The increase in cases was sharp, considering that on Tuesday, the state had reported 6,218 new Covid-19 cases.

Mumbai recorded 1,167 new Covid-19 cases, the highest daily spike in about four months, on Wednesday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.

The tally of cases in the country's financial capital thus rose to 321,698, while the death toll reached 11,453 with four new fatalities.

On Tuesday, the city had reported 643 new cases and three fatalities.

On October 28, Mumbai had witnessed 1,345 new cases, after which the numbers had gradually fallen.

The state also reported 80 deaths on Wednesday and the total toll from the pandemic stands at 51,937. With 2,772 discharges or recoveries seen during the same period, the active case count is at 59,358.

The Centre has deputed multi-disciplinary teams to states witnessing a surge in Covid-19 cases, including Maharashtra to support them in effectively tackling the pandemic.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday announced that, all political, religious and social gatherings will be prohibited in the state.

In his televised address, he also said that political agitations will not be allowed for the next few days as they attract crowd.

Thackeray warned that if the coronavirus situation in the state deteriorates, Maharashtra will be put under a lockdown.