DDMA May Revoke Mask Fine, Scale Down Covid Staff, Equipment At Delhi Hospitals: Report

The DDMA meeting held today under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena and in the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Women wearing masks visit a market, in New Delhi (Source: File photo/PTI)

New Delhi: The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) may do away with the fine of Rs 500 for not wearing masks in public places and will also reduce the staff and equipment deployed in hospitals in a phased manner in view of the continuing decline in the number of COVID-19 cases in the national capital, said sources as reported by news agency PTI.

The DDMA meeting held today under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena and in the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal reviewed the COVID situation in Delhi and also reviewed the resources given to hospitals to deal with the coronavirus infection.

The DDMA, in its last meeting held in April, had made it mandatory to wear masks in public places and imposed a fine of Rs 500 on those violating it.

Sources present in the meeting said that in the meeting held today, it was decided to increase surveillance of ILI-SARI cases so that early warning could be detected.

At the same time, it was agreed to increase the dose of preventive vaccine from the current 24 percent to at least 40-50 percent, he said.

"Deployment of staff and equipment in hospitals will be scaled down in a calibrated and phased manner and the health department will prepare an action plan," said a source.

The meeting also emphasised on the analysis of genome sequencing data so that it can be detected when there is an increase in the number of cases or any new variants have emerged. At the same time, the expert members emphasised that there is no need to let the guard down.

Earlier in the day, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asked people to take a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Kejriwal has tweeted, "The meeting (meeting) of DDMA was held today under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor Sahib. Took stock of the current situation of Corona. Many important decisions were taken. There is an appeal to all Delhiites that everyone must get a booster dose of the vaccine. Keep your family safe from Corona during the festive season. Take all precautions to avoid corona.

"The DDMA meeting was held under LG sir's chairmanship. Took stock of the current situation of coronavirus. Several key decisions were taken. I appeal to all Delhiites to get booster doses of the vaccine.

"Keep your family safe from coronavirus in the festive season. Follow all the protocols to protect yourself from coronavirus," Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi.

(With PTI Inputs)