Muristek
New Delhi, April 20
Masks are set to return to the national capital with Covid-19 infections continuing to surge at the state and the national levels.
The Delhi Disaster Management Authority is learnt to have decided on a fine of Rs 500 for not wearing a mask as cases surged by 65 per cent from 1,247 to 2,067 at the national level, daily positivity rose from 0.31 per cent to 0.49 per cent and the virus reproduction number, indicating its transmissibility, crossed 1 for the first time since January.
2,067 fresh cases
TOTAL DEATHS 5,22,006
ACTIVE CASES 12,340
40 deaths in 24 hours
Active Covid cases also went past 12,000 today.
Meanwhile Chennai's Institute of Mathematical Sciences estimated that the national R naught value rose over the past few weeks and is 1.07 between April 12 to 18. The last time the R value was above 1 was between January 16 and 22 at 1.28. Nationally with 2,067 new infections, cumulative case tally rose to 4,30,47,594 and active cases settled at 12,340.
The toll is now 5,22,006 after 40 deaths in a day. Active cases make up 0.03 per cent of the total infections now.
Amid fourth wave fears, states, which had previously ditched the masks, are revisiting Covid protocols with Delhi set to impose penalty for not wearing masks and Haryana recently restarting the mask mandate in districts witnessing a rise.
Delhi sees 60% more cases in 24 hours
The national capital logged 1,009 fresh Covid cases on Wednesday, a 60% jump from a day ago, while one person died due to the infection, according to city health department data. This was the maximum number of cases recorded in Delhi since February 10. pti