Mumbai: The Uddhav Thackeray government on Wednesday declared an extension of lockdown in the state till January 31.

According to a statement declared by government on Wednesday, the lockdown rules will be in place till midnight of January 31. In its order, the state government under its 'Mission Begin Again' plan, said that the phase-wise opening of activities in state will "remain in force till 31 January, 2021 for containment of COVID- I 9 epidemic in the state and all departments of the government of Maharashtra shall strictly implement these guidelines."

The activities, which are already permitted and allowed to resume from time to time shall be continued and all earlier orders shall be associated with this order and shall remain in force up to the end of January 2021, the state government said in its order declared on Wednesday.

While, the lockdown curbs will be stringently followed in containment zones.

In a move to boost economic activity in Maharashtra, the state government has eased several lockdown restrictions as allowed by the MHA guidelines. In November, the government had permitted the reopening of religious places. Additionally, schools for students from class 9 to 12 were also resumed in some parts of Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra on Tuesday recorded 3,018 new cases, taking the caseload to 19,25,066. With 69 deaths, the death toll in the state now stands at 49,373.