COVID-19: Mask Mandatory In Delhi; ₹500 Fine For Violations

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has reintroduced the mask mandate in the national capital  amid an uptick in cases of the coronavirus in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). This comes two days after Haryana and Uttar Pradesh also reintroduced mask mandates due to rising cases. It has also introduced a fine of ₹500 for violations, a day after Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia said that a fine will not be imposed.

Schools will remain open in Delhi but a Standard Operating Procedure will be implemented after consulting experts, the government says. The government will issue an official order on the use of masks soon.

Delhi recorded 632 cases of coronavirus on Tuesday with daily positivity rate at 4.42%, but as yet the rate of hospitalization and deaths have been minimal as yet. Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain said that the present situation is not alarming and the government is keeping a watch on it.

There was a lull in cases recorded in March when the 7-day average of cases remained below 200, and then showed a rise in April, with 118 on April 7^th, 201 on April 14^th, and 443 on April 19^th.