Masks: More cities and states make masks in public mandatory | India News



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NEW DELHI: Delhi, Mumbai and the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha made the use of face masks compulsory for people leaving their homes.
In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the mandatory mask rule announced on Wednesday was limited to all officials, staff and visitors of the Civil Secretariat, while in Ladakh UT it was applied to the general public as well as to all government officials, including military personnel, and rape became a punishable offense.
Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi issued orders “in the best public interest” saying that the face covering should be a three-layer mask or a homemade mask, and that a person not wear one outside the home could be arrested and booked under Section 188 of the IPC (disobedience of order duly promulgated by a public servant). The punishment under this section is a minimum of six months in prison, and the order applies to ordinary citizens, as well as all government officials. Masks are mandatory even when moving in one’s personal or official vehicle. No person / officer may attend any meeting, meeting, workplace, site without wearing a mask.
The new orders have been issued under Rule 10 of the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897.

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The Maharashtra government’s general administration department also made the masks mandatory for all personnel in the Mumbai and Pune metropolitan regions. They must be used from the moment of entry to the exit of a public office, said a circular. Masks are already mandatory in Mantralaya.
Dr. Jayanti Shastri, head of the Mumbai Kasturba Molecular Laboratory, said that with the increase in asymptomatic infection, it was important to wear a mask. “When a person talks, coughs or sneezes, there are drops. The mask ensures that the drops do not fall on anyone or on a surface. It protects others from contracting an infection,” he said.
The Delhi government announced its move into mandatory face masks after a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
In UP, not wearing a mask or face covering will carry a penalty from now on, the details of which are being resolved by the government. On Wednesday, UP’s additional chief secretary (household), Awanish Awasthi, said: “It has been decided that wearing masks will be mandatory from now on. In fact, not wearing a mask can also lead to a penalty.” A later published GO said that the use of masks had been made mandatory under the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897 and the UP Epidemic Diseases Manual (Covid-19), 2020. The GO also says that only health workers should Wearing N-95 masks, he recommends a three-layer cloth mask, which can also be made at home, for common use. “If such a mask is not available, gamchhas, scarves, or stoles may be used,” recommends the GO. “People should cover their faces, and masks or cloth should be washed with soap every time,” he says.
With effect from 7 am on April 9, people in Odisha will be required to wear masks when leaving their homes. “The general public is directed to cover their mouth and nose with any type of mask available when leaving the house. A handkerchief or any other piece of cloth in at least two layers may also be used for the purpose until received new orders. ” government order said.
Madhya Pradesh Prime Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also made wearing masks mandatory in the state, amid a wave of Covid-19 cases. After bringing masks under the Essential Services Maintenance Act, Chouhan urged people to “put on the mask before leaving the house.” “You can even wear homemade masks, but you should wear one,” he said.
The official J&K government spokesman said on Wednesday: “The move is part of several preventive measures taken to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the Civil Secretariat.”
“In this regard, the general administrative department issued an order today saying that all administrative secretaries have been authorized to purchase masks so that three reusable masks are provided for each employee in each department in the Secretariat,” the spokesperson said.
The Leh DM (in the UT of Ladakh), Sachin Kumar Vaishya, issued orders that the general public and government officials (both civilian and armed) are required to wear face masks in public places, without exception.
“In the event of any violation, criminal action will be taken under the rules against violators. This will take effect on April 9,” he said in his order issued in the exercise of powers under Section 34 of the Disaster Management Law. , 2005.

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