MUMBAI:
Maharashtra will from Tuesday put Mumbai and other major cities under curfew from 11 pm to 6 am till January 5 to counter a threat from a new strain of the coronavirus in Britain, said multiple reports.
The state will also impose 14 days mandatory institutional quarantine for those returning from Europe and Middle East to the state. Returnees from other countries coming to the state will also have to be home quarantined.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray decided on the night curfew after a meeting with his advisors in Mumbai.
Earlier Thackeray on Sunday said wearing masks will be mandatory for the next six months in the state. Addressing people of the state on social media, Thackeray said experts are in favour of imposing night curfew or another lockdown, but he is not in favour of these steps.
The coronavirus situation in the state is under control, through not completely, he said.
"Prevention is better than cure. Wearing of mask at public places should be made a habit for another six months at least," Thackeray said.
Maharashtra reported 3,940 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, taking the state tally to 18,92,707. It also reported 74 deaths due to the pandemic, taking the death toll to 48,648.