Gurugram: As Covid cases surge, It is now compulsory to wear face masks at public places, offices, schools but not in Delhi

GURUGRAM: In view of increasing Covid-19 positive cases being reported in Delhi and NCR towns including Gurugram, the Haryana government on Tuesday made it mandatory for the people to wear masks at the public places such as offices, schools, and colleges in four Haryana cities surrounding Delhi – Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonepat, and Jhajjar.

Ever since the Haryana and Delhi government have abolished the compulsory wearing of masks rule, the number of Corona positive cases have been surging on daily basis.

In a notification issued on Tuesday, Rajeev Arora, Additional Chief Secretary, Health Department, Haryana stated that those violating the government orders will be prosecuted and levied fined Rs. 500 for each violation effective from April 18.

In an alarming situation, out of a total of 238 cases of corona reported on Monday from the entire Haryana, 198 were from Gurugram alone and about 22 cases were from Faridabad.

The positivity rate jumped from 1.62% in March to 6.34% on April 19. Nearly 15% of cases are being reported in children on daily basis.

In April, the number of daily Covid-19 positive cases is approaching nearly 200 during last few days. On Sunday as many as 157 new Covid cases were confirmed and the number surged to 198 on Monday.

“COVID-positive cases are also being reported in children. Nearly 15% cases are being reported in children on daily basis. So surveillance in schools is of utmost importance to us. We are conducting more than 3000 tests per day in the district,” said a statement by the office of Civil Surgeon of Gurugram.

Earlier on Monday, the Haryana Health and Family Welfare Minister, Anil Vij also said that in view of the increasing cases of covid, face masks were being made mandatory in four districts of Haryana adjoining NCR namely Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat and Jhajjar. The one who will not wear a face mask will be fined.

Vij said that the health department team was sent by him to Gurugram to study the increasing cases of corona to find out the reason behind the Covid cases increasing in there and the report of this study is yet to come.

But at present, as a precaution, it has been made mandatory to apply face masks in four districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat and Jhajjar adjacent to Delhi and the one who does not wear the mask will be fined.

He further said that from which areas of Gurugram the cases of corona are coming and from which settlements different teams have been formed. Apart from this, samples have been sent to Rohtak to know the variant of Corona, according to which further preparations will be made. He said that “we are fully prepared, our staff is ready, our equipment, beds and oxygen are adequate”, but people should be alert this time.