In their trademark witty style, the Mumbai police have warned residents of the city to follow the COVID-19 protocol, and failing to do it could have not-so-pleasant consequences. The warning on Twitter comes at a time when there has been a steady rise in the number of fresh cases over the past days.

“Dear Mumbaikars,

Please follow all safety rules.

Else, we will have to follow you around and that may not be all that ‘fine’,” the Mumbai Police wrote.

Dear Mumbaikars,

Please follow all safety rules.

Else, we will have to follow you around and that may not be all that ‘fine’.#TakingOnCorona #MaskIsMust

— Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) February 25, 2021

Maharashtra remains the worst coronavirus-affected state in the country, hitting a four-month high with up to 8,807 new cases and 80 deaths recorded in the past 24 hours alone. The overall number of cases in the city now stands at 21,21,119.

Mumbai reported its highest spike in four months: 1,167 fresh cases in 24 hours, with four deaths. 

Fresh restrictions have now been imposed by the city’s civic authorities, including a ban on social and political gatherings, NDTV reported.

“The simple mantra is wear a mask, follow discipline, and avoid a lockdown. We will review the situation again in the next eight days and decide on a lockdown,” Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had said earlier this week in a live television address.

The Mumbai police’s witty COVID-19 warning comes at a time when they have been filing cases against those violating norms deliberately, and also imposing fines on those found in public spaces without their masks on, with up to ₹ 1,000.

An FIR was registered against a gymkhana and sports centre in Central Mumbai for hosting a wedding attended by over 300 persons without following the protocol, based on the city civic body’s complaint earlier this month.