The Brihanmumbai Mumbai Corporation on Thursday issued updated coronavirus-related guidelines amid a rise in daily cases in Maharashtra as reported 5,427 new cases.

After a gap of 75 days, the state reported more than 5,000 infections, according to PTI. It had reported 5,229 infections on December 4, which had been followed by a gradual drop in cases.

BMC Commissioner S Chahal said that buildings in the city will be sealed if there are more than five active cases. “Stamps will be put on back of the hands of the patients staying in home quarantine,” Chahal added. “300 marshals will be hired to keep an eye on people traveling in local trains without face mask. Besides, additional marshals will be hired to keep an eye on violators in Mumbai.”

The BMC commissioner also said that wedding halls, clubs, and restaurants will be raided to check for any violation of safety rules. Citizens violating rules for home quarantine and gatherings will be punished.

He added that people returning from Brazil will also have to undergo mandatory institutional quarantine, amid fears over the spread of mutant coronavirus strains in India. “Tests will be increased in areas where more patients are found,” Chahal said, according to ANI.

Also read: Coronavirus: India records 12,881 cases, tally at 1.09 crore, toll climbs to 1.56 lakh

Weekend lockdown imposed in Amravati, restrictions in Yavatmal

Meanwhile, the authorities in Maharashtra’s Amravati and Yavatmal districts also announced fresh restrictions.

In Amravati, a lockdown will be imposed from 8 pm on Saturday to 7 am on Monday. Markets, restaurants, hotels and swimming pools will remain closed during this time. The restrictions won’t affect essential services.

Amravati Collector Shailesh Naval told PTI that on weekdays, hotels, restaurants and other establishments will be allowed to stay open till 8 pm only. Earlier, they could operate till 10 pm.

The official urged people to follow precautions to avoid harsher restrictions. “In view of a spurt in Covid-19 cases, I have decided to impose a weekend lockdown in the district,” he said. “To avoid any stricter lockdown in the future, I appeal to people to follow Covid-19 appropriate behaviour.”

Meanwhile, in Yavatmal district schools and colleges will remain closed till the end of the month, ANI reported. Restaurants and banquet halls will only be allowed to operate at less than 50% capacity. A similar cap will be imposed on the number of guests at weddings.

Maharashtra Chief Secretary Sanjay Kumar directed the collectors of Amaravati, Yavatmal, and Akola districts to declare containment zones in the areas with a high number of coronavirus patients, ANI reported.

The recent uptick in coronavirus cases in Maharashtra has caused alarm. Amravati district reported a huge jump in cases on Wednesday. It recorded 230 new cases, as against 82 on Tuesday. Some other districts in the Vidarbha region have also witnessed a rise in infections over the last few weeks.