New Delhi: As India again sees a rise in the number of Covid cases, the Uttar Pradesh government on Monday took steps to contain the spread of the virus. The Yogi Adityanath government has issued orders making masks mandatory in public places in cities that are reporting an increase in the positivity rate.
The UP government said, “In view of the increase in the number of COVID cases, wearing of face masks in public places is mandatory in Gautam Budh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Meerut, Bulandshahr, Baghpat and Lucknow.”
The districts falling under the National Capital Region (NCR) have been impacted by the increase in COVID cases. Keeping this in mind, the government has made the use of masks mandatory in public places in Gautam Buddh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Meerut, Bulandshahr, Baghpat as well as in the capital Lucknow, an official spokesperson told PTI.
In the last 24 hours, 65 new Covid cases have been confirmed in Gautam Buddh Nagar, 20 in Ghaziabad and 10 in Lucknow, the official said, adding that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered to monitor the situation closely.
In view of the improvement in the COVID-19 situation, the Uttar Pradesh government had earlier this month relaxed the wearing of face masks.
The rise in Covid cases in the national capital is also a matter of concern for Uttar Pradesh.
Delhi recorded 517 fresh COVID-19 cases on Sunday, 56 more than the previous day, with the positivity rate at 4.21 per cent, while no deaths were reported, according to city health department data.
With these new cases, the number of infections in the city has risen to 18,68,550, while the death toll has risen to 26,160. Delhi is witnessing an increase in the positivity rate of daily COVID-19 cases in the last few days.