The cases recorded in Maharashtra in the past 24 hours were close to 9,000 and over 1,000 in the city for the second consecutive day, as Mumbaikars continued to flout COVID-19 rules in public places.

The state recorded 8,998 new cases, fewer than Wednesday’s tally, but still on the higher side. Mumbai reported 1,104 new cases on Thursday. The drop in cases over the past few days was due to fewer number of tests, said sources. In the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Thane Municipal Corporation, Navi Mumbai and Kalyan-Dombivli Corporation continued to record cases in three digits with 188, 153 and 248, respectively.