Haryana, Kerala and Puducherry have made wearing masks mandatory in public places amid a rise in COVID-19 cases.
On Sunday, India recorded 5,357 cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours, taking the cumulative tally since the pandemic began in January 2020 to 4.47 crore, showed data from the Union health ministry.
The number of fatalities due to coronavirus reached 5,30,965 after nine deaths were reported since Saturday. The number of active cases in the country stood at 32,814.
Although the guidelines will be in effect throughout the entire Union Territory during the stay in Puducherry, Haryana has specifically mandated the use of masks at gatherings exceeding 100 people. In contrast, Kerala has announced that masks are obligatory for pregnant women, elderly individuals, and those with lifestyle ailments.
A review meeting was conducted on Friday by the Union Health Minister Mansukh, with representatives from all states and Union Territories in attendance. During the meeting, Mansukh urged them to remain vigilant and announced a nationwide mock drill on April 10 and 11. The mock drill will assess the readiness of health facilities.
