The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation on Thursday issued fresh guidelines for residents amid rising cases of COVID-19 in Mumbai. BMC Commissioner IS Chahal informed that a building will be sealed if five or more COVID-19 patients are located at the premises.

According to Chahal, authorities will put stamps on the back of the hands of patients staying in home quarantine, a method that was used to detect COVID-19 quarantine violators last year, when the infections in the city first began to rise.

Also read: COVID-19: Physical attendance in Aurangabad schools made optional

“Stamps will be put on back of the hands of the patients staying in home quarantine. 300 marshals will be hired to keep an eye on people travelling in local trains without a face mask. Besides, additional marshals will be hired to keep an eye on violators in Mumbai,” he told ANI.

“Wedding halls, clubs, and restaurants etc will be raided to check if they are flouting rules. Now people returning from Brazil will also have to undergo mandatory institutional quarantine. Tests will be increased in areas where more patients are found,” Chahal added.

Meanwhile, a 10-day lockdown has been announced in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district. A one-day lockdown will also be imposed in Amravati district on February 21 amid rising coronavirus cases in the region. 

Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol has said that in last 10 days the number of COVID-19 patients has increased, however, the situation is not worrisome. Still, the authorities are on alert.