Covid-19: No more mask penalty, announces Delhi government

Delhi government on October 20 withdrew the mandatory ₹500 fine for not wearing face masks in public places. The health department, however advised people to continue wearing masks in crowded places.

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) had in a meeting last month decided to stop levying the penalty after September 30 amid a decline in Covid-19 cases in the national capital.

It was decided in the meeting that the ₹500-penalty for mask violation in public places would become ineffective after September 22.

Mask relaxations have been in place for quite some time, especially after the national capital witnessed a decline in cases. Several district authorities had stopped imposing fines owing to the improving Covid situation.

On October 19, Delhi recorded 141 new cases with a positivity rate of 2.04% and no fatalities, as per the state health bulletin. The total case tally has climbed to 20,05,104 with the death toll at 26,506.

Also watch: Joe Biden administration extends Covid-19 public health emergency