Highlights
- Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) had last month decided to stop levying the penalty after September 30, citing the fall in new COVID-19 infections.
- Delhi recorded 107 fresh COVID-19 cases with a positivity rate of 1.64 percent on Wednesday, according to health department data.
- Experts had mixed views on the lifting of the mask mandate, with some saying the government could have waited for two months for the festive season to end
The penalty for not wearing masks in public places in the national capital has officially been lifted as the Delhi Government on Thursday issued an order withdrawing the Rs 500 fine imposed under the Epidemic Act, to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) had last month decided to stop levying the penalty after September 30, citing the fall in new COVID-19 infections.
No fine, continue wearing mask
“And, whereas, the DDMA has decided that compulsory wearing of masks under the Epidemic Act may not be extended beyond September 30 and hence, a fine of Rs 500 for not wearing masks in public places would also stand withdrawn after September 30,” the order issued on Thursday read.
The order, however, advised people to wear masks in crowded public places.
Mask mandate in Delhi
A mask mandate had been in place in Delhi since March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic started.
On April 2, the Delhi government had lifted the Rs 500 penalty for not wearing face masks at public places as COVID-19 cases were fairly under control for a few weeks before that, but within three weeks, it had to bring it back amid a surge in infections.
COVID-19 cases in Delhi
Delhi recorded 107 fresh COVID-19 cases with a positivity rate of 1.64 percent on Wednesday, according to health department data. On Tuesday, the positivity rate was 2.04 percent, 3.61 percent on Monday, 1.59 percent on Sunday, 2.12 percent on Saturday, and 1.75 percent on Friday.
The number of active cases now stands at 488. The number of daily cases in the city had touched a record high of 28,867 on January 13 during the third wave of the pandemic.
Lowering the guard amid growing concern
Experts had mixed views on the lifting of the mask mandate, with some saying the government could have waited for two months for the festive season to end, while others said people should voluntarily be allowed to discipline themselves.
The no-mask fine in Delhi has been withdrawn at a time when health officials are advising caution ahead of the festival season.
The discovery of two new sub-variants of Omicron has also added to the concerns of the authorities.
Health experts have said that the upcoming festival season is a critical period for a surge in new cases and urged people to follow COVID-appropriate behaviour.
