Masks are back in 3 states as Covid cases surge

As the country continues to see a worrying surge in Covid-19 cases,  Kerala, Haryana and Puducherry  have made masks mandatory to curb spread of the disease.

Kerala Health Minister Veena George said extreme caution has to be taken by all those who have senior citizens in their homes.

“If there are elderly people or people with lifestyle diseases at home, a mask is mandatory for others too,” according to a Kerala health department statement.

“Senior citizens suffering from lifestyle diseases should ensure that they at all times, especially when they go out, wear masks. Pregnant women should also wear masks. Also, those who have to go out should ensure that they wear masks, and once they are back home, ensure that all Covid protocols are followed by using soap and sanitisers appropriately,” Kerala health minister Veena George said.

Kerala reported 1801 new infections on Saturday.  Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kottayam districts have the highest number of Covid cases.

The Haryana government made wearing face masks mandatory in public places as it has been observed that there is a significant upsurge in the number of COVID cases with an increased positivity rate in the state over the past few weeks, according to a state Health Department statement.

The Puducherry administration on Friday made mask wearing compulsory in the union territory with immediate effect owing to the rise in number of Covid-19 cases. District Collector E Vallavan said with the union territory currently witnessing a surge in coronavirus positive cases, the territorial administration has enforced with immediate effect a slew of precautionary measures “to minimise the risk of increase in transmission of Covid-19 in the coming days

Delhi

Delhi logged 535 fresh Covid cases on Saturday with a positivity rate of 23.05 per cent, according to data shared by the city government’s health department. The sources said the department has instructed hospitals, polyclinics and dispensaries in the city to increase Covid testing.

Maharashtra

Maharashtra on Saturday recorded 542 new cases of coronavirus infection and one fatality, an official from the state health department said.

The state has 4,360 active coronavirus cases.

Meanwhile the country recorded 6,155 fresh Covid-19 infections on Saturday, the highest in close to 7 months, according data compiled by the Union health ministry on Saturday morning.

The total number of active coronavirus cases in the country has now shot up to 31,194.

With 11 more deaths reported due to the disease in the last 24 hours the total number of fatalities in the last 8 days has gone up to 70.