New Delhi, India Considers Reintroducing Mandatory Mask Wearing Amid Rising COVID-19 Cases

New COVID-19 Cases Rise from Below 100 to 460 Range

A resident of New Delhi, India, moving with a mask hanging on the chin [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] In New Delhi, the capital of India, where efforts to restore daily life were accelerating following the lifting of quarantine measures, COVID-19 cases have recently started to rise again. Accordingly, the health authorities remain vigilant.

On the 17th (local time), according to Indian media such as Mint, New Delhi authorities decided to gradually strengthen the quarantine surveillance network again, including resuming random testing at subway stations and bus stops.

The measure to not impose fines on those not wearing masks is also expected to be revoked soon.

The reason New Delhi authorities are taking these steps is that the daily new confirmed cases, which had fallen below 100 earlier this month, increased to 461 on this day.

The positive rate compared to the number of tests, which had been below 1%, also rose sharply to 5.3%.

As the spread of COVID-19 slowed down in New Delhi, various quarantine measures were gradually lifted, hastening the restoration of daily life.

At the end of February, the nighttime curfew was lifted, all schools were allowed to resume in-person classes, and restrictions on stores, which had been operating on alternate days under an odd-even system, were already lifted at the end of January.

On the 31st of last month, the fine imposition on those not wearing masks was also lifted.

However, the COVID-19 situation in regions other than New Delhi remains generally stable, and India’s daily new confirmed cases have recently been around one thousand, significantly decreased from the peak of 347,254 cases on January 21.

The number of new deaths, which exceeded one thousand in early February, has recently dropped below 50, with cumulative confirmed cases and deaths at 43 million and 520,000 respectively.

Meanwhile, the Indian federal government has lifted all quarantine measures except for personal hygiene recommendations such as wearing masks, social distancing, and hand washing since the end of last month.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.