<span style="color: #222222;">Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray today said that the state will take a cautious view on re-opening of religious places and hinted that permission may be granted post Diwali festivities to avoid overcrowding in the wake of novel coronavirus pandemic.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Addressing the people of the state via webcast today, CM said that although the SOPs would be released later, wearing of face masks while visiting places of worship in the state would be compulsory.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The CM also informed that the state government was in talks with the Centre for resuming Mumbai local services for the general public. He said the decision will be taken soon.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">AIR correspondent reports, addressing the people of the state today, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray also stressed on the importance of wearing a face mask and added those not wearing masks will be fined.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said a COVID-19 patient moving without a face mask in a crowd can infect around 400 persons. Thackeray also appealed to people to show self-discipline and celebrate Diwali without firecrackers as pollution can affect COVID-19 patients.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Although the number of coronavirus cases are on a decline in the state, the CM cautioned people against a second wave of the virus and said that 15 days after Diwali are very crucial.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Crediting effective implementation of the 'My Family My Responsibility' campaign for the declining number of cases in the state, the CM said currently the weekly positivity rate is less than 10% which was 22.05 % in June.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">While the mortality rate which was 12.91 % in March has now come down to 2.63 %.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The doubling period of coronavirus cases which was 5.4 days in March and 204 days in Oct has now reduced to 217 days.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">In Mumbai it is 208 days and in Dharavi it is record 351 days. At present only 77 patients are undergoing treatment in Dharavi which is Asia's largest slums.</span>