'Will shut Mumbai locals, buses if people don't stop non-essential travel,' says Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray

Mumbai: Amid rising cases of novel coronavirus in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday said the government would be forced to take the "harsh decision" to stop bus and train services in Mumbai if people don't avoid unnecessary travel.

File photo of Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. Twitter@OfficeofUT

Talking to reporters in Mumbai, Thackeray also appealed people to avoid unnecessary travel and gathering. He said there would be no holiday for seven days to government offices as was reported in a section of media.

Thackeray said the administration was working on allowing functioning of government offices with 50 percent strength.

As of Tuesday, there are 40 persons in Maharashtra who have tested coronavirus positive, he said. A COVID-19 patient has died, he added.

The condition of 39 coronavirus positive patients is stable, while one is critical, he said. These patients include 26 men and 14 women, Thackeray said.