NEW DELHI: The health and family welfare department of the Delhi government issued an advisory on Friday asking people to continue wearing the face mask in public places. The department, however, has clarified that no penalty will be imposed for such offence with immediate effect.
The order came a day after Delhi Disaster Management Authority reviewed the Covid-19 situation in the capital. With the positivity rate of the Covid-19 infection coming down significantly and a majority of the population vaccinated, DDMA, chaired by lieutenant governor Anil Baijal, on Thursday decided that there was no need to impose a penalty for not wearing the face mask or cover.
"Now, DDMA has decided that it is advisory for all public to wear masks in public places," the order stated.
The DDMA meeting was also attended by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, deputy CM Manish Sisodia, revenue minister Kailash Gahlot, chief secretary Vijay Dev, Dr Randeep Guleria of AIIMS, Dr SK Singh of NCDC, and Dr S Panda from ICMR, apart from other senior officials.
DDMA had last month reduced the penalty for not wearing face masks from Rs 2,000 to Rs 500. It had also removed Covid-related restrictions in the city.
