Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray People on Thursday said people should use face masks, get vaccinated and follow discipline if they do not want to experience COVID-19 restrictions again.

Speaking at a meeting of the state COVID-19 task force amid a rise in the number of cases in the last few days, Thackeray said the government would monitor the situation for a fortnight.

Maharashtra on Thursday recorded 1,045 new coronavirus infections and one death, taking the active number to 4,559. The state’s caseload stands at 78,89,212, and the death toll stands at 1,47,861.

“If people do not want restrictions again, they should follow the discipline themselves. Use masks, follow physical distancing, sanitize and immunize,” he said, adding that cases have increased seven-fold in the last one and a half months.

State Health Secretary Pradeep Vyas, who gave a detailed presentation of the virus situation during the meeting, said the state recorded the lowest number of 626 active cases on April 16 this year, while it had risen to over 4,500 on Thursday.

Mumbai, which saw 704 cases during the day, followed by Thane, Pune and a few other urban areas and accounted for 97 per cent of the tally.

Mumbai’s positivity rate, or cases detected per 100 tests, was 6 per cent, double that of the state, which stood at 3 per cent.

Citing experts’ opinion that the number of cases is likely to rise further, the CM said, “We will keep a watch for the next 15 days. Citizens should follow COVID appropriate behavior to avoid further spread. He asked the officials to take stock of the existing health infrastructure along with keeping the field hospitals built during the peak of the pandemic ready. He also stressed on the need to expedite vaccination.

Thackeray said schools would reopen soon and asked officials to inquire about the decisions taken elsewhere regarding the safety of children and the likelihood of them getting infected.

The CM asked the people to get themselves tested if they are having cold, cough and throat irritation.

“Wear a mask in crowded public places. Vaccinations in the 12-18 age group should be accelerated and a booster dose should be taken. Oxygen and medicines should be kept on standby. Monsoon-related diseases have symptoms like COVID-19 and hence, doctors should advise their patients to get themselves tested,” said Thackeray.