Maharashtra reported close to 7,000 COVID-19 cases on Sunday, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said while announcing that political, religious, and social gatherings will be prohibited across the state from Monday due to the surge in cases.

Thackeray said that there has been a sudden rise in numbers in the last two weeks and warned that lockdown could be imposed if the cases continue to increase. 

“If the (COVID-19) situation deteriorates, then we have to impose lockdown. Those who want lockdown can roam around without mask while those who don’t want it must wear a mask and follow all the rules,” he said during a virtual address, ANI reported. 

Referring to the Maharashtra government’s ‘My family, my responsibility’ campaign, he said, “The new slogan is ‘I am responsible’, which means that people must be responsible for themselves. People must ensure that they are using a mask, keeping distance, and washing their hands.”

On Sunday, Maharashtra recorded 6,971 new cases and 35 more deaths, pushing the overall tally in the state to over 2.1 million.