The Haryana government has decided to bring back the mask rule in the wake of a spurt in Covid cases in the state and elsewhere in the country. The Manohar Lal Khattar government on Saturday announced the mandatory use of masks in public places to combat the recent surge in Covid-19 cases. The mandate was announced via a bulletin issued by the Haryana Health Department on Saturday.'
The bulletin highlighted that there has been a significant upswing in the number of Covid-19 cases, with a higher positivity rate of Covid-19 infection over the past few weeks in the State of Haryana. The decision to enforce the mandatory use of face masks by the general public was taken as a precautionary measure against another potential outbreak of Covid-19.
The statement issued by the Haryana Health Department read, "It has been decided that wearing a face mask by the general public at all public places where there is a gathering of more than 100 people, government offices, malls, etc. is mandatory." The district administrations and panchayats have been instructed to ensure that this directive is implemented throughout Haryana, and the general public has been urged to adopt Covid-appropriate behavior in public places.
The Haryana Health Department on Friday reported 407 fresh Covid-19 cases. Gurugram accounted for the highest number of cases at 206, and two Covid-related deaths were reported in the past week - one in Yamunanagar district on Tuesday and another in Gurugram on Thursday. The Haryana government is taking necessary steps to control the spread of Covid-19 and is urging the public to follow the guidelines to stay safe during these trying times.
Neighbouring Delhi logged 535 fresh Covid cases on Saturday with a positivity rate of 23.05 per cent, according to data shared by the government's health department. On Friday, Delhi had 733 Covid cases, the most in more than seven months, with a positivity rate of 19.93 per cent.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra on Saturday recorded 542 new cases of coronavirus infection and one fatality, bringing the total number of infections to 81,49,141 and the death toll to 1,48,458, PTI reported citing a state health department official.
Infections have decreased since Friday when the state recorded 926 cases and three fatalities.
The official said that with 668 patients recovering from the infection in the last 24 hours, the total number of recoveries has reached 79,96,323, leaving the state with 4,360 active cases. According to the health department's bulletin, Mumbai recorded 207 cases on Saturday, making it the city's fifth consecutive day with 200 or more infections.