As new COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Maharashtra, the State government has made masks ‘must’ in closed public spaces.
However, confusion persisted as State’s Health Minister Rajesh Tope while speaking to reporters on Friday afternoon said that the masks have not been made mandatory, but people are urged to wear them as a precaution to avoid spread of coronavirus.
Earlier, in a letter to all district and municipal corporation heads, State’s health secretary Dr. Pradeep Vyas had said, “Mask in closed public spaces like trains, buses, cinemas, auditorium, offices, hospitals, colleges, schools is a must.” Mr. Vyas’ letter comes on the background of alarming letter from Union Health secretary to the State government voicing caution over the rising number of COVID-19 cases in six districts of the State. Directions from Mr. Vyas advocated the need to prioritise vaccination in communities which still have vaccine hesitancy. He has also asked the district administration to increase RT-PCR testing.
