Mumbai, March 12 (IANS): With COVID-19 positive cases climbing to 12 in the state, the Maharashtra government on Thursday ordered cancellation of all public functions, gatherings, mass religious events and other programmes as a precautionary measure until the situation normalizes.

Another patient admitted with symptoms in Pune's Naidu Hospital has tested positive for COVID-19, taking the total number in the city to nine, besides two in Mumbai and one in Nagpur.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray carried out a video-conference review meeting with the state Divisional Commissioner on the situation in their respective jurisdictions after which several directions were issued.

All state or public functions will be cancelled to avoid overcrowding and to arrest the further spread of the disease which has assumed deadly proportions globally.

"The source of coronavirus in the state is not local. It came from the tourists who got infected during their foreign trips," said Thackeray.

Accordingly, all travel and tour operators across the state have been asked to provide a list of the tourists who have travelled abroad in the past few weeks, especially after Feb. 15.

Thackeray reiterated his suggestion to all people who have come from abroad to go into 'self-quarantine' at their respective homes for two weeks to avoid any public contact.

In accordance with the centre's directives, the state has ordered compulsory 'home quarantine' for all people arriving after Feb. 15 from the seven worst-hit countries: China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, France, Spain and Germany, he added.

"The health departments in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur have already created such quarantine facilities and all other civic bodies must provide the status of similar facility by Friday," Thackeray said.

Principal Secretary, Health Pradeep Vyas said that all travellers from the (above) seven countries shall be quarantined by the state government, arrangements for which shall be made by the respective district collectors.

Besides, all those people who come in contact with such persons shall be quarantined at their homes as an added precaution.

The government has ruled out any immediate requirements to screen or check all citizens for coronavirus, but those who test positive and don't exhibit symptoms must be sent into isolation, preferably at a location away from the treatment centres or hospitals, said Vyas.

Thackeray assured that all the (12) patients found positive are stable and undergoing treatment, and urged people not to panic as the state government is fully geared to tackle the situation.