The national Capital Delhi on Wednesday joined several States and cities, including Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Nagaland, Maharashtra, Jammu & Kashmir and Chandigarh, in making wearing of face masks mandatory for venturing out of home for any reason during lockdown.
Declaring that wearing masks while going out has been made compulsory in the national Capital, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that people found without the mask will be persecuted.
“Wearing of facial masks can reduce the spread of coronavirus substantially. Therefore, it has been decided that facial masks will be compulsory for anyone stepping out of their house. Cloth mask shall be eligible too,” Kejriwal said on Twitter.
The Uttar Pradesh Government also made it mandatory for people in the State to wear masks to check the spread of coronavirus. “Wearing of masks has been made compulsory in the State. There can be legal action for not wearing masks,” Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Avnish Awasthi said.
During the day, the Maharashtra Government also initiated similar measure, making it mandatory for people to wear face masks in public places, streets, hospitals, offices, markets and while travelling in vehicles. Maharashtra has so far reported 1,135 cases.
Nagaland was the first State that has made use of masks and hand sanitisers compulsory in the State. The Centre has also issued an advisory asking people to wear “homemade face covers” particularly when they step out of their houses.
According to an order issued by the Greater Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi, “All persons will be moving for whatsoever purpose and under whatever reason in a public place, like street, hospital, office, markets must be wearing 3-ply mask or cloth mask.”
“These masks may be standard masks available with the chemist or even homemade washable masks and can be reused after proper washing and disinfecting them. Those found violating the rule will punished under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC),” the order said. The development came shortly after Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday urged people to use masks.
Chandigarh has also made compulsory for people to wear masks in public places from Wednesday. Adviser to Chandigarh administrator VP Singh Badnore, Manoj Parida said that they have made it mandatory for people in Chandigarh to wear masks or cloth on their face from Wednesday.
Odisha was the first State which made it mandatory for people to cover their mouth and nose with any available form of mask when they come out of home for any purpose from April 9.
In its advisory on the use of homemade protective cover for face and mouth’ , the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said the use of such masks will help in protecting the community at large and that certain countries have claimed benefits of homemade face masks for the general public.
The office of Principal Scienti?c Adviser (PSA) to the Modi Government has also issued an advisory, for wearing of mask for people living in densely populated areas across India. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs has already declared that masks will be treated as essential commodities till 30 June to check hoarding and black-marketing. The prices of surgical masks (3 ply) and non-woven masks also were capped at Rs 10 and Rs 8 respectively.
