Masks made compulsory in Maharashtra again over rising COVID cases

As the COVID-19 cases have once gained a steep surge in Maharashtra, wearing masks has been reintroduced and made compulsory in closed public spaces. Over 1,000-plus cases were recorded in Maharashtra for the third day on June 3.

• The announcement by the state government is part of a strategic plan to contain the surge and keep hospitalisation to a minimum.

On June 3, the Maharashtra health department requested that district and civic authorities increase coronavirus testing because the number of samples examined had decreased while the number of cases had increased.

• In a letter to collectors, municipal corporations and chief executive officers, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Pradeep Vyas said all districts should ensure the proportion of RT-PCR tests was at least 60 per cent.

"People should be advised to wear masks in closed public spaces like trains, buses, cinemas, auditoriums, offices, hospitals, colleges and schools," Vyas said.

Vyas also directed officials to conduct periodic analyses of new cases in terms of time, place, and person in order to develop a localised action plan. The letter also stated that an appropriate number of samples should be referred to an identified INSACOG laboratory for genomic sequencing.

The letter stated that vaccination coverage should be increased, and that precaution doses should be promoted and expedited, as well as vaccination in the 12-18 age group.