<span style="color: #222222;">Maharashtra Government has extended the lockdown in the entire state till 31st of August in view of rising Coronavirus cases. A notification issued by Chief Secretary Sanjay Kumar said, the decision was taken as an emergency step to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19.<br />''<br />''The notification said that as part of the State Government's Mission Begin Again initiative, malls and market complexes without theatres, food courts and restaurants will be operational between 9 AM and 7 PM from 5th of August. It said that large public gatherings and congregations will continue to remain prohibited and marriage-related gatherings will have only up to 50 guests. The maximum number of persons allowed at funerals will be 20.<br />''<br />''Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray  directed officials  not to let their guard down and ramp up tracing COVID-19 patients and their contacts.<br />''<br />''CM Thackeray told a Cabinet meeting that just lockdown is not important, but tracing of Cod -19 patients and their contacts should be the focus.He added that all municipalities across the state need to follow the rules strictly.<br />''<br />''Meanwhile, Maharashtra's COVID-19 case count has crossed the four lakh-mark in the last 24 hours. State Health Secretary Pradeep Vyas has informed that COVID-19 mortality rate in Maharashtra now stands at 3.62 per cent while the case doubling rate is 27 days, which has improved to 70 days in Mumbai. </span><br />