Just In
- 1 hr ago Balenciaga Tape Bracelet: Is It Worth Spending A Bomb On Adhesive Looking Accessory? Know Our Take!
- 3 hrs ago In China, GenZ Workers Are Ditching Formal Attire For Pyjamas, Know The Reason Behind This
- 5 hrs ago Shukra Rahu Yuti In April 2024: Check The List Of Lucky Zodiac Signs
- 8 hrs ago Daily Horoscope, 28 March 2024: Gemini Businessmen Will Witness Profits Today
Don't Miss
- News Uttarakhand: Nanakmatta Gurudwara Kar Sewa Pramukh Shot Dead, CCTV Records Crime; Probe Underway
- Technology Amazon Invests $2.75 Billion in ChatGPT, Google AI Rival Anthropic, Spending a Total of $4 Billion
- Finance Sovereign Green Bonds: Govt Announces Market Borrowing Of Rs 7.7 Lakh Crore For H1FY25
- Automobiles Mahindra Thar 5-Door Version Set For August 15 Launch: What To Expect
- Sports UFC 305: UFC Returns to Perth After Multi-Year Partnership With Tourism Western Australia
- Movies Aadujeevitham Public Review: Prithviraj Sukumaran And Blessy's Survival Drama Earns Acclaim
- Education TANCET 2024 results declared; Know how to check the result
- Travel Explore Tamil Nadu's Diverse Wedding Venues
No Proposal To Lift Face Mask Rule Though Covid-19 Wave Almost Ended: Maharashtra Health Minister
Amid demands from certain quarters to reconsider the face mask rule in view of the declining COVID-19 graph in Maharashtra, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Sunday ruled out any such relaxation though he said that the third wave of the pandemic is almost ended.
Tope's comments come a day after Maharashtra reported 893 COVID-19 cases and eight fatalities due to the infection.
"The peak of the third wave had seen 48,000 cases per day in Maharashtra. Now the number of fresh cases is not even ten per cent (as compared with the peak). The number of active cases is around 9,000 now," Tope told reporters in Jalna.
When asked about further relaxation of COVID-19 norms, including doing away with the face mask rule, Tope said, "Chief Minister (Uddhav Thackeray) is constantly saying that we cannot assume that that COVID pandemic is over. So the decision on mask liberty will be taken after careful consideration".
The Maharashtra government had on Tuesday stressed the need to continue to observe COVID-appropriate behaviour like wearing of masks, maintaining social distancing and frequently sanitising hands though it withdrew the orders issued on separate dates in July and August 2021 and the SOP dated August 10.
Tope said that the third wave is almost ended and the government is gradually easing the restrictions.
"The third wave of the pandemic is almost ended. But we should continue to be vigilant and not lower our guard," he said.
Responding to a query, Tope ruled out Maharashtra being made mask free soon. "No such proposal is under our consideration," he added.
He also expressed concern over the expiry of 1.50 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccines in Mumbai and called for a national policy to prevent wastage of the doses.
Tope said the Maharashtra government is following the guidelines of the COVID Task Force and the Union government on the administration of a booster dose. "There is no demand for administering the booster dose to all," the health minister added.
- pregnancy parentingMysterious Pneumonia Outbreak In China: What Are The Long-Term Effects Of Pneumonia In Children?
- healthCan You Get Back COVID-Related Loss Of Sense Of Smell And Taste (Parosmia)? Looks Like You Can!
- healthDid Covid-10 Vaccination Increase Risk Of Sudden Deaths In Young Adults? ICMR Finds This..
- wellnessDelhi Air Pollution, Air Quality Very Poor: Do Covid Masks Help Reduce Pollution Side Effects?
- healthNobel Prize 2023: Scientists Behind The COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines Wins
- healthWhat Is Disease X? 20 Times More Deadlier Than Covid 19; Can Cause 50 Million Deaths, Does It Have Vaccine?
- healthCOVID-19 Vaccines and Heart Attacks: New Studies Show Different Results; What Are They?
- healthDo You Pick Your Nose? Stop! It Can Increase COVID Risk
- healthEris Variant: WHO Alarms New Covid Wave; Should India Be Concerned About This Pandemic
- healthVitamin D Deficiency Linked With Increased Risk Of Long COVID
- healthCOVID Surge In India: Do You Need A COVID-19 Booster Shot?
- healthCOVID-19: IMA Cites 3 Reasons Behind Recent Surge In Covid-19 Cases: What Are They?