Mumbai: With a spike in COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra the state government is considering enforcing a second complete lockdown in the next few days on the recommendation of the state COVID-19 task force.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray directed officials at a meeting on Sunday to prepare Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) so that lockdown can be enforced in a planned manner if required.

Officials were directed to ensure the supply of food, medicines and other essential commodities is maintained and medical facilities run in case a lockdown in Maharashtra is imposed. Thackeray said that protecting people’s health is his top priority.

With Covid-19 cases galloping in the state, the Maharashtra government on Saturday announced a return to stringent night restrictions and a slew of related measures to control spread of the virus.

In a detailed notification, under the ''Mission Begin Again' scheme, Chief Secretary Sitaram J. Kunte has declared prohibitory orders starting Saturday night (March 27-28) between 8pm-7 am, till April 15. The developments came a day after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray carried out a mega-review with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Health Minister Rajesh Tope, and other officials from across the state in view of the growing number of Covid-19- cases.

All hotels, restaurants, bars, malls, cinemas, multiplexes, auditoria, malls, beaches, gardens, parks, etc, with violators liable for fines or closed down till the pandemic is in force, though home delivery of food parcels is permitted.

People found roaming without masks will be slapped with fines of Rs500, those found spitting in public to be penalised for Rs.1000, and violating prohibitory orders will attract a Rs.1000 penalty.

Assembly of 5 or more persons is prohibited while, all social political religious and other gathering are banned though there is a guest limit of 50 for wedding and 20 mourners at funerals.

Maharashtra stared at another lockdown as its tally crossed 2.70 million (27 lakh), a day after the death toll zoomed above 54,000.

(With inputs from IANS)