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The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Wednesday, 20 April, announced that wearing masks in Delhi will be mandatory again.
Following a review meeting, DDMA announced that those found in violation of the rule will have to pay Rs 500 in fine, news agency ANI reported, quoting sources.
The meeting was also attended by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Revenue Minister Kailash Gahlot, and senior officials from the health department.
During the meet, health officials were asked to keep a close watch on the B.1.10 and B.1.12 variants of COVID-19, which are likely to be more transmissible. The DDMA sought genome sequencing testing on all RT-PCR positive samples.
DDMA added that schools, markets and other economic activities would remain open in adherence to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
However, after a consultation with experts, guidelines will be issued to prevent the spread of the virus at campuses, reported NDTV quoting sources.
Random testing will also be conducted at metro stations, markets, and other public places.
Meanwhile, Delhi's Lt Governor Anil Baijal said that SOPs should be adopted in schools in consultation with experts, and that the school authorities should ensure that they are strictly enforced, ANI reported.
Baijal also added that in the larger interest of students, a penalty should be imposed on people who do not comply with the SOPs, to create a deterrent effect.
The announcement comes just days after the Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments made the wearing of face masks in public places compulsory in certain districts on Monday.
Delhi has been witnessing an exponential rise in infections in the past week.
A whopping 265.69 percent surge was observed in the number of COVID-19 cases in the past week in Delhi, the data released by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare showed:
Monday, 18 April: 501 cases
Sunday, 17 April: 517 cases
Saturday, 16 April: 461 cases
Friday, 15 April: 366 cases
Thursday, 14 April: 325 cases
Wednesday, 13 April: 299 cases
Tuesday, 12 April: 202 cases
Monday, 11 April: 137 cases
The national capital reported 632 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours leading to Tuesday. According to the Union Health Ministry's data the figure showed a 26 percent rise in COVID-19 cases compared to the previous day. However, the positivity rate plummeted from 7.72 percent on Monday to 4.42 on Tuesday.
(With inputs from NDTV and ANI.)
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