In its highest ever single-day spike in novel coronavirus cases, Maharashtra reported 63,294 new cases along with 349 deaths on Sunday, with the government saying an appropriate decision on imposing lockdown will be taken later this week.
The total number of cases in the state rose to 34,07,245 while the fresh casualties took the death toll to 57,987, the health department said in a statement.
A total of 34,008 patients were discharged during the day, taking the recovery count to 27,82,161.
A record 2,63,137 tests were conducted across the state during the day, which took the overall test count to 2,21,14,372.
Mumbai reported 9,986 cases and 79 deaths, which took its caseload to 5,20,498 and death toll to 12,023.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray held a virtual review meeting in the evening discuss measures, including imposition of a lockdown, to break the virus chain.
"In a meeting with the State Task Force, the chief minister discussed the availability of oxygen & beds, use of Remdesivir, treatment protocols, increase in capacity of facilities, imposition of restrictions & fines for violating COVID protocols,” the chief minister's office said in a tweet.
Thackeray is scheduled to hold consultations with the finance and other state departments on Monday and discussion will also take place in the cabinet meeting later this week.
After the Sunday's review meeting, health minister Rajesh Tope said an appropriate decision regarding imposing a lockdown in the state will be taken after April 14.
"Duration of the lockdown and how to handle its economic fallout was discussed during today's meeting. The task force is of the view that the prevailing coronavirus situation in the state is such that a lockdown is required," the minister said.
Last Sunday, the state government had announced a slew of restrictions, including a weekend lockdown, night curfew and prohibitory orders for the day time.
The chief minister has already indicated the possibility of a strict-lockdown in case the alarming upward trend in new COVID-19 cases continues.
Meanwhile, the Union health ministry said that India's total active caseload has increased to 11,08,087 and it now comprises 8.29 per cent of the country's total infections.
Five states—Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala—cumulatively account for 70.82 per cent of India's active COVID-19 cases which have breached the 11-lakh mark for the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic.
Maharashtra alone accounts for 48.57 per cent of the total active caseload of the country, the ministry said.
(With PTI inputs)
