Mumbai, Mar 28 (IANS): The Covid-19 incidence was lower in Maharashtra with only 10 new positive coronavirus cases reported on Saturday, raising the number to 167, officials said.

These include seven new cases in Mumbai and the rest in Nagpur who are undergoing treatment in different hospitals.

The new cases came a day after the count shot up by more than 31 in a 24-hour time-cycle, prompting the Maharashtra government to write to the Army, requesting it to remain on standby for rendering assistance to tackle "any medical emergency" if required.

Five persons have been confirmed as victims of Covid-19, besides a senior Mumbai medico who died under treatment at a private hospital and was found positive, but his test reports have yet to be received by the authorities.

The state health authorities, terming the case as "suspected", said the deceased was an 85-year old doctor suffering severe diabetes and had a pacemaker in his heart.

Recently two of the medico's close family members had travelled to the UK and further details were awaited, the officials said.

The Maharashtra government has again appealed to the people to remain indoors and avoid overcrowding in public places even for buying essentials even as it permitted all shops in urban cenres to remain open 24x7.