NEW DELHI: The
Delhi Disaster Management Authority
(DDMA) on Wednesday made wearing facemasks in public mandatory as a preventive step to control the surge of Covid-19 cases.
Sources said that anybody found without a facemask might have to pay a penalty of Rs 500.
The DDMA had also decided to keep the schools open, however, a detailed standard operating procedure will be prepared by the directorate of education with the help of stakeholders and experts.
The meeting was chaired by lieutenant governor Anil Baijal and attended by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, other ministers, top bureaucrats and experts.
In its last meeting on March 30, the DDMA had withdrawn the Rs 500 penalty on not wearing facemasks. Experts believe the Delhiites dropped the masks leading to a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases again.
Sources said the DDMA members stressed aggressive testing and emphasised wider coverage of vaccination among the eligible age groups. There will be close monitoring of social, cultural and political gatherings.
Officials said both LG and the chief minister agreed that the rise in the number of cases was a concern but there was no need to be worried.
The DDMA is likely to issue a detailed order late in the evening.
The national capital recorded 632 fresh Covid-19 cases from 14,299 tests with a positivity rate of 4.42 per cent on Monday.
According to a health bulletin issued by the government on Tuesday, the total number of active cases in Delhi stands at 1,947.
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