new Delhi: With a significant drop in daily Covid-19 infections and total active caseloads across the country, several states including Maharashtra, Delhi and West Bengal on Thursday announced relaxations, two years after the coronavirus pandemic was curbed.
While Maharashtra decided to lift all COVID-19 restrictions, with no restrictions on public movement, Delhi said no penalty will be imposed for not wearing a face mask in public places.
Even as the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government announced that all Covid-induced restrictions in the state would be withdrawn from midnight.
The announcements come as a major relief to citizens who are under pressure to comply with the rules imposed by both the central and state governments to contain the spread of the deadly virus that has claimed over 5 lakh lives in the country so far. are in.
India on Thursday reported 1,225 fresh Covid-19 infections, a slight drop from the previous day’s count of 1,233 cases. The nation also recorded 28 Covid-related deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the toll to 5,21,129.
Here’s a look at the changes in terms of COVID restrictions from April
Maharashtra
After nearly two years of stringent restrictions, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government has decided to do away with all COVID-related restrictions, including mandatory wearing of masks, in Maharashtra from April 1.
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope announced that all COVID-19 related restrictions under Epidemic Diseases Act and Disaster Management Act will be withdrawn.
Wearing of face masks will be voluntary from April 2.
Additionally, there will be no restriction on public movement, social, religious or political gatherings, weddings, funerals, visiting malls, cinemas, shopping plazas, traveling by trains, buses, etc.
However, the state government has recommended physical distancing and voluntarily wearing of face-masks as a precaution, though there will be no penalty for defaulters.
Delhi
Following this, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) also announced that there will be no penalty for not wearing face masks in public places in the national capital.
Currently, a person not wearing a face mask in public places will have to pay a fine of Rs 500.
However, the DDMA said that it will issue an advisory for people asking them to wear masks in crowded places.
West Bengal
Like Maharashtra and Delhi, the West Bengal government also announced that all restrictions related to coronavirus across the state will be withdrawn from midnight.
The government, however, insists on the use of masks and maintenance of hygiene.
“The advisory regarding health and hygiene protocols including wearing of masks, hand hygiene and sanitization of public places at all times will continue strictly till further orders,” the order of the West Bengal government said.
The order also said that the district administration, police commissioner and local authorities shall ensure strict compliance of health and hygiene protocols and advisories on proper handling of COVID-19.
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