Wearing masks to become mandatory in Maharashtra? Health Minister Rajesh Tope explains

Amid the rising COVID 19 cases in different parts of India, wearing masks in crowded places in Maharashtra can be made mandatory again, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Wednesday, a statement which comes over three weeks after lifting of all COVID-19 restrictions in the state.

He also stressed that there was no need to panic as the count of active cases in the state is still below 1,000, while the number of cases per million in the state was very less than in other states.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is expected to hold a meeting with the district collectors in the state to discuss the issue with them, he said.

“I feel this decision (about making the wearing of masks compulsory in public places) could be taken after the meeting,” Tope told reporters here after a virtual meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with state chief ministers on the emerging COVID-19 situation in the country.

He further urged people to wear masks voluntarily to prevent the spread of COVID 19.

Amid a rise in infections in some parts of the country, Tope said, “Maharashtra in a safe zone. No need to panic.”

He said the active cases in the state stood at 929 as of Wednesday and the state has seen over 56,000-70,000 active cases now.

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