More states make wearing masks mandatory in public

Governments in Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Odisha and Rajasthan issued orders making the use of masks mandatory for citizens while stepping out of their houses in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus, a day after Delhi, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh governments had issued similar orders.

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Violation of this will attract legal action, the order by Madhya Pradesh state Public Health Department said.

'The department has made it mandatory to wear face-masks while stepping out. Action will be taken against the violators under various laws, including the Madhya Pradesh Epidemic Disease COVID-19 Regulation-2020,' it said.

The order said that in the absence of masks, people can use towel or dupattas to cover their faces.

Home-made masks or towels can be used again after washing, the order said.

In Rajasthan too, the state government made masks compulsory in urban areas and agricultural mandis.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also directed officials to install more CCTV cameras, beginning with Jaipur's walled city, to monitor the movement of people in coronavirus-hit areas.

At a video conference with officials, Gehlot also urged them to apply the 'Bhilwara model' of aggressive containment of the disease in other parts of the state.

Gehlot asked officials to ensure compliance of the decision in all 196 urban local bodies, and in mandis where procurement of foodgrain is scheduled to begin on April 15.

'The decision was taken to contain the spread of coronavirus pandemic in the state,' a press release quoting him said.

The Punjab government also made wearing face masks for people mandatory in public on Thursday.

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh made this announcement on his Facebook page.

'Masks are compulsory in Punjab now. Health Secretary is issuing a detailed advisory for the people. Just remember to wear mask when you step out of home for any emergency/essentials. A piece of clean cloth is all you need. Let's all stay safe and fight #Covid_19 together,' Singh posted in the evening.

In the past few days, the state has witnessed a spike in the number of coronavirus cases.

The total count of confirmed cases in Punjab stood at 130.

Odisha has also come out with an order to make wearing face masks mandatory from Thursday morning, a violation of which will invite a fine.

Those found moving without face masks will have to cough up Rs 200 each for the first three occasions, which will increase to Rs 500 for every violation after that, Chief Secretary A K Tripathy said.

The order exempts children below two years of age and asthma patients.

The stringent measures came as the state witnessed a big jump in the number of COVID-19 cases to 44 from just five reported on April 1.

The state has seen one death due to the disease.

Though there is a shortage of N-95 masks in the markets, people may use a clean handkerchief or a piece of cloth with multiple folds to cover the nose and mouth while going outside, Odisha government's spokesperson on COVID-19 Subroto Bagchi said.

Another official said the experience of Japan containing the spread of the virus by using masks was taken into consideration while issuing the order.

'Wear simple face mask whenever you go outside to slow spread of #COVID-19. Use any cotton material like handkerchief or piece of cloth and prepare it as a face mask to cover your nose, mouth and chin,' the state Health and Family Welfare department said in a tweet.