The state was fully prepared to tackle the situation and people must not panic but should take precautions, especially due to the upcoming festival and new year season, CM Shinde said

In his address after the meeting that he chaired through video conferencing, CM Shinde said the symptoms of the new sub variant were mild but it seems to spread faster

During the meeting, the CM was informed that Maharashtra has 63,000 isolation beds to tackle the ailment, a release by the Thane district information office said

He was also informed that the state currently has 45 Covid-19 patients, including 27 in Mumbai, eight each in Pune and Thane and one each in Kolhapur and Raigad

He directed officials to ensure hospitals are fully equipped with oxygen plants, ventilators, beds and also took stock of the availability of medicines and vaccines, the release said

"Due to the upcoming (Christmas) festival season and new year, people should take utmost precaution. They should take medical help if they show any symptom," the CM said

India on Thursday recorded 594 fresh Covid-19 infections while the number of active cases increased to 2,669 from 2,311 the previous day, according to Union health ministry data