New Delhi: Masks would be made compulsory in Delhi again as the capital region has contributed significantly this last week in the spike of Corona cases in the country.
The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) met Wednesday to chalk out measures that would help stymie the recent increase in infections in the national capital.
The DDMA would fine people Rs 500 if found without the face cover, a senior officer told ThePrint. The official order on this is yet to be issued.
A strict eye would be kept on hospitalisation trends for the next fortnight and genome-sequencing stepped up for RT-PCR positive samples, sources said.
It is unlikely that schools would be closed – they opened in March after two years of online classes – though a standard operating procedure could be fixed in consultation with experts.
There was a three-fold rise in cases from 11 to 18 April in Delhi with many reported from the capital region’s schools.
Delhi recorded 632 fresh cases on Tuesday, a 26 per cent rise in a day. The positivity rate was 4.42 per cent.
The Centre on Tuesday had advised Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra and Mizoram to keep a strict watch on the situation amid fears that a fourth wave was imminent.
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan told the five states to follow the strategy of “test-track-treat-vaccination and adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour”, with a particular emphasis on wearing masks in crowded places.
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