The Delhi government has mandated wearing face masks in public places following a surge in the numbers of COVID-19 cases. Health officials say that the new sub-variant is highly transmissible and can also infect people with antibodies.
The Delhi government has made face mask wearing mandatory in public places to arrest the spread of coronavirus. Those found violating the rule will be liable to pay a fine of Rs. 500. However, it is not applicable while travelling in a private car.
The Delhi government’s decision mandating the wearing of face masks in public places follows a surge in the numbers of COVID-19 cases being reported in the national capital.
The national capital reported 2,146 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours as against 2,495 reported on Tuesday. A health bulletin said as many as eight people lost their lives due to the virus. The COVID positivity rate in the city has risen to 17.83 per cent, and the number of active cases stands at 8,205, out of which 5,549 patients are being treated in home isolation.
The latest order has been issued after a new sub-variant of COVID-19’s Omicron variant was detected in New Delhi. Identified as BA-2.75, the new sub-variant was detected in a study report of 90 samples sent for genome sequencing. Officials of the LNJP Hospital in the capital said the new sub-variant is highly transmissible and can also infect people with antibodies.
Dr Suresh Kumara, medical director of the LNJP Hospital said that the Omicron subvariant BA-2.75 also infects people who have taken the COVID-19 vaccines.
Image: UNICEF
