In an alarming situation, Maharashtra's COVID-19 cases on Thursday crossed the 18-lakh mark even as new cases and fatalities continued to rise along with active cases.

The new cases continued above 5,000 with 6,406 fresh cases reported in 24 hours took the total crossed the 18-lakh mark and went up from 17,95,959 to 18,02,365. On the other side, state recovery rate sink from 92.64 per cent to 92.57 per cent while the current mortality rate enhanced to 2.06 per cent.

On the positive side, 4,815 recovered patients returned home taking the toll from 16,63,723 to 16,68,538 till date.

Of the 65 deaths reported in Maharashtra on Thursday, Mumbai witnessed 15 deaths followed by, Pune with nine deaths while six fatalities were reported each in Satara and Nagpur. Chandrapur also witnessed four deaths while Thane, Parbhani and Kolhapur had accounted three.

Mumbai and Pune regions continue to witness more deaths amid the infection. The Mumbai region reported 20 new fatalities in a day - pushing the total to 18,580 and with another sharp surge of 2,181 new cases, the total cases now stand at 6,25,192. Pune division reported 17 fatalities and the death total scaled up from 10,545 to 10,562 while the daily cases gone up to 450,766. Meanwhile, the number of people sent to home quarantine stands at 5,28,690.

Though the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) has made clear that no lockdown will be permitted until the consent of the Centre but Maharashtra government needs to plan the stricter curbs to restrict the further spread.

Despite the slow rise in cases, owing to crowding during Diwali festival and winter season, the state government in not in favour of reimposing a new lockdown.

Deputy Chief Minister of the state Ajit Pawar opposed any new lockdown. Talking to media persons in Pandharpur, he said, “We cannot afford any lockdown. Those who make their living on daily wages, has been suffered badly during the lockdown. Despite it, they cooperated during the lockdown. I think instead of curbs, all of us should follow COVID-19 rules by maintaining social distancing and wearing masks as it will help us to curtail the spread of virus.”