News Analysis India

Tag: mask

  • Government says masks no more compulsory during air travel 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Civil Aviation Ministry on Wednesday said the use of masks is not compulsory during air travel but passengers should preferably use them amid the declining number of coronavirus cases.

    Till now, the use of masks or face covers while travelling on flights was mandatory.

    In a communication to the scheduled airlines, the ministry said the latest decision has been taken in line with the government’s policy of a graded approach to COVID-19 management response.

    In view of the threat posed by COVID-19, all passengers should preferably use mask/face covers. Any specific reference to fine/penal action need not be announced as part of the inflight announcements: Ministry of Civil Aviation pic.twitter.com/V4yrH5x77Z
    — ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2022
    “The in-flight announcements henceforth may only mention that in view of the threat posed by COVID-19, all passengers should preferably use mask/face covers,” the communication said.

    It also said that any specific reference to fine/penal action need not be announced as part of the in-flight announcements.

    The total number of active coronavirus cases in the country accounted was only 0.02 per cent of the total infections and the recovery rate increased to 98.79 per cent, according to the latest official data.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,28,580 and the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent.

    NEW DELHI: The Civil Aviation Ministry on Wednesday said the use of masks is not compulsory during air travel but passengers should preferably use them amid the declining number of coronavirus cases.

    Till now, the use of masks or face covers while travelling on flights was mandatory.

    In a communication to the scheduled airlines, the ministry said the latest decision has been taken in line with the government’s policy of a graded approach to COVID-19 management response.

    In view of the threat posed by COVID-19, all passengers should preferably use mask/face covers. Any specific reference to fine/penal action need not be announced as part of the inflight announcements: Ministry of Civil Aviation pic.twitter.com/V4yrH5x77Z
    — ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2022
    “The in-flight announcements henceforth may only mention that in view of the threat posed by COVID-19, all passengers should preferably use mask/face covers,” the communication said.

    It also said that any specific reference to fine/penal action need not be announced as part of the in-flight announcements.

    The total number of active coronavirus cases in the country accounted was only 0.02 per cent of the total infections and the recovery rate increased to 98.79 per cent, according to the latest official data.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,28,580 and the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent.

  • Voluntary use of masks must be promoted in view of new XE variant: Experts

    Eminent virologist T Jacob John said XE means there were XA, XB, XC and XD earlier but none of them were given much attention.

  • 2021: The Year of the Mask, raging inequality, Neeraj Chopra and Fahadh Faasil

    By Online Desk

    The Year of the Mask, it again was.

    The rich became richer and inequality became starker amidst the pandemic. 2750 billionaires now own more than half the wealth on the planet. Worrisome? You decide.

    A brutal Covid delta wave left India gasping like never before. Officially, we have lost almost a half a million lives to the dreaded disease. A semblance of normality returned towards the latter half of the year with the vaccinate India mission proceeding at a fast clip. At the end of 2021 when Vax was crowned the word of the year by the Oxford dictionary, India had over 60% of its population double jabbed. We are now heading into boosters territory and better prepared hopefully, though Omicron looms in the wings.

    ALSO READ | First Delta and now Omicron, Karnataka patient beats COVID-19 twice in a year

    The year will also be remembered as the one in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to yield to the protesting farmers who held firm in their demands during the raging pandemic – unflinching and unbowed. Was it the elections in UP that led to the government repealing the three farm laws as most experts stated? “We couldn’t convince a section of farmers despite our best efforts,” the PM admitted in his concession speech.

    Lawyer-activist Sudha Bharadwaj, an accused in the highly controversial Elgar Parishad case, went on to be finally released on ‘defaul bail’ in December after over three years in prison. Reason: The Mumbai High Court held that she could only have been detained for 90 days without a chargeheet being filed! A case of the wheels of justice grinding slowly in her case at least.

    The bail applications of eight other fellow activists detained along with her were only rejected as they had not filed for ‘default bail’. One of these activists Rona Wilson was among those whose phones a forensic analysis by Amnesty International revealed was infected with the “total-access” Pegasus spyware. The Pegasus revelations raised several disturbing questions on possible state surveillance and is now subject to a Supreme Court ordered inquiry.

    Around the middle of 2021, we lost our tragedy king, that great actor all of India looked up to – Dilip Kumar. Mohammed Yusuf Khan was 98 when he breathed his last on July 7, 2021. “Given my temperament, when I have either been dubbed a tragedian or a comedian, I have always felt that they are talking about someone else. Because I think I’m a bit of everything – mujh mein sab ka thoda thoda sa hai,” Dilip saab once told the Filmfare magazine. Indeed!

    ALSO READ | To sum up in a word, 2021 was wack!

    Nedumudi Venu was another complete actor who departed from our midst in the year that was. Even PM Modi took to twitter to condole the death of the one-of-a-kind artiste. “Shri Nedumudi Venu was a versatile actor, who could fill life into diverse roles across many genres. He was also a prolific writer and was passionate about theatre. His passing away is a loss to the world of films and culture. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti,” he tweeted.  

    Puneeth Rajkumar’s turned out to be a death that shocked everyone. The much-loved, gracious and fitness-exercise conscious ‘Power Star’ was only 46 when he died of a sudden cardiac arrest on October 29.  

    #PuneethRajkumar pic.twitter.com/j9iRXhINp8
    — Danish Sait (@DanishSait) October 29, 2021
    In sports, the year began with the Indian cricket team breaching Fortress Gabba and clinching the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1 — in Australia.

    A bigger golden moment was soon to follow. On August 7, 2021, Neeraj Chopra, all of 23, did what the great Milkha Singh and PT Usha could not, becoming the first Indian to win a gold medal in track and field. Chopra would go on to dedicate the medal to Milkha Singh, who passed away on June 18, noting that he was only fulfilling the late legend’s wish.

    WATCH |

    2021 was also when Kane Williamson further underlined that good guys can be winners. He and his New Zealand team won the World Championship. The heartbreak that Indian fans endured after losing the final was somewhat lessened by the fact that the sporting Kiwis were the victors.

    It was the year too when the original Kane Williamson – Rahul Dravid – made a return to Team India as the coach. We know he is no Indira Nagar ka goonda, but Mr Nice Guy’s firmly competitive streak and his technical mastery should be to Team India’s advantage as they look to scale greater heights in the years to come.

    The other notable sporting moments came from Novak Djokovic, who joined Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at Mount 20 Tennis Slams, Max Verstappen, who pipped seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton to the Formula 1 title on the last lap of the season, and Lionel Messi, who won the Ballon D’Or for the seventh time.

    As for entertainment, there was no dearth of it amidst the pandemic. OTT platforms continued to gain in prominence and more of India began to discover the depth of the talent in Southern cinema.

    Fahadh Faasil’s incandescent brilliance lit up many homes. He was the Malik of the year as far as actors were concerned.

    Tovino Thomas went on to become the ultimate desi superhero for many others towards the fag end of the year.

    ALSO READ | Joji Movie Review: A chilling, Coen-esque crime drama

    Scoring on behalf of the over-40 actors was Suriya Sivakumar with his star turns in Soorarai Pottru and Jai Bhim.

    And then there were the songs.

    The composer of the year — and this was the pick of Avinash Ramachandran from our movies team while reviewing Tamil songs — was Santhosh Narayanan. Four films and compositions that spanned almost the entire spectrum. We could not agree more!

  • Uttarakhand minister Yatishwaranand seen wearing mask on toe, picture goes viral

    By PTI
    DEHRADUN: A picture went viral on social media on Thursday showing Uttarakhand minister Yatishwaranand in conversation with another minister while his mask is hanging from his toe.

    The picture evoked sharp reactions from netizens who said all the rules were perhaps meant for people to follow while policy makers could be conveniently indifferent to them.

    The picture shows Yatishwaranand in conversation with state agriculture minister Subodh Uniyal.

    Another minister Vishan Singh Chufal can also be seen in the picture.

    While no one in the picture is wearing a mask properly, Yatishwaranand’s mask is seen hanging from his toe while he is sitting cross legged.

    An MLA from Haridwar (rural), Yatishwaranand is a cabinet minister holding charge of portfolios like sugarcane and rural development.

  • Maharashtra: NSG unit official stopped for not wearing mask assaults cops

    By PTI
    AURANGABAD: A 34-year-old man posted in the Special Rangers Group of the NSG allegedly assaulted some policemen when they stopped him for not wearing face mask in a public place as per COVID-19 protocols here in Maharashtra, an official said on Thursday.

    An assistant police inspector and two other security personnel were injured in the incident that took place on Wednesday, he said.

    In the wake of fresh restrictions enforced across the state earlier this week amid fears of a third wave of COVID-19, a team of personnel from Cantonment police station was checking vehicles at the Nagar Naka square.

    The accused, resident of Adgav Bhumi in Phulambri taluka, was on way to his village along with his brother when the police team stopped him as he was not wearing a face mask, the official said.

    However, the accused told the policemen that he was working with the NSG (National Security Guard).

    He then allegedly got into a fight with the policemen and assaulted them, injuring three personnel, the official said.

    The accused and his brother were taken to the police station.

    An offence was registered against the accused under IPC Sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 ((negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), the official said.

    When contacted, a senior police official here said, “The accused is posted in the Special Rangers Group (of NSG) at Manesar in Haryana. I have spoken to his seniors.” 

  • Not wearing masks on railway premises now punishable under Railway Act, fine up to Rs 500

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Not wearing masks on railway premises and in trains can attract a fine of up to Rs 500, with the national transporter now incorporating it as an offence under the Railway Act, according to an order issued on Saturday.

    This is the latest in a slew of measures that the railways has taken to ensure compliance of the various COVID-19 protocols issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Affairs to restrict the spread of the virus.

    “One of the specific guideline is to wear masks in order to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for movement of trains as brought out by Indian Railways on May 11, 2020, says that it should be advised to all passengers that they shall be wearing face cover/ mask at entry and during travel,” order issued by the railways said.

    The mandatory use of masks and the fine will now be listed under the Indian Railways (Penalties for ctivities affecting cleanliness at Railway Premises) Rules, 2012, which also has the provision of fines for those found spitting on rail premises, it said.

    “In view of the COVID-19 situation, controlling spitting and act of similar nature due to any person not wearing mask and entering railway premises (including trains), is important to avoid creation of unclean and unhygienic conditions which may cause danger to life and public health, ” the order said.

    “Accordingly, to prevent spitting and act of similar nature and thus, to ensure wearing of face masks or face cover by all persons at railway premises (including trains), fines (up to 500) under Indian Railways (Penalties for activities affecting cleanliness at Railway Premises) Rules, 2012, shall be imposed by railway officials…,” it stated.

    The order also said that this would come into immediate effect for a period of six months till further instructions are issued in this regard.

    A record single-day rise of 2,34,692 cases and 1,341 fatalities have pushed India’s COVID-19 tally to 1,45,26,609 and the death toll due to the viral disease to 1,75,649, the health ministry said on Saturday.

    The number of active coronavirus cases in the country has surpassed the 16-lakh mark, the ministry’s data updated at 8 am showed.

    Registering a steady increase for the 38th day in a row, the tally of active COVID-19 cases has climbed to 16,79,740 in the country, accounting for 11.56 per cent of its total caseload, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has dropped to 87.23 per cent.

  • COVID-19: Chhattisgarh increases penalty for not wearing masks to Rs 500

    By PTI
    RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh government has increased from Rs 100 to Rs 500 the amount of penalty for not wearing face mask, to ensure strict implementation of the coronavirus guidelines, an official said on Friday.

    The state health and family welfare department on Thursday issued an order to this effect under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 to contain the spread of the infection, a release by the public relations department said.

    “According to the order, now a penalty of Rs 500 will be imposed if anyone is found not wearing mask or face cover in public places. Earlier, the penalty was Rs 100 for the violation,” it said.

    The state government has also appealed to people to strictly follow the preventive guidelines, including physical distancing and washing hands, apart from the use of masks, it said.

    In view of the sudden spike in coronavirus cases, the administrations have imposed section 144 of the CrPC, which bars assembly of four or more people, in several districts of Chhattisgarh, including Raipur, Durg, Bastar, Raigarh, and announced various restrictions, including banning all kinds of religious, festivals, cultural and political programmes and sports events, exhibitions and fairs till further orders.

    Chhattisgarh on Thursday recorded the highest single- day spike of 2,419 coronavirus cases in the last four months.

    The state’s COVID-19 caseload stood at 3,32,113 till Thursday.

    Of these, 3,14,769 people have so far recovered, while 4,026 patients have died due to the infection so far, as per official figures.

    The state has reported 11,330 COVID-19 cases in the last one week with most of the infections being reported from Raipur, Durg and Bilaspur districts.

  • Rs 4 crore fine collected from maskless people in a month in Mumbai

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Mumbai police have collected a fine of Rs four crore in a month from two lakh people in the city, who were found not wearing mask despite the surge in COVID-19 cases, an official said on Thursday.

    The amount was collected from February 20, he said.

    “Rs four crore fine was collected from two lakh people at different locations across the city after they were found not wearing mask,” Mumbai police spokesperson DCP S Chaitanya said.

    “While 50 per cent of the collected fine will go to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the rest of the amount will be used for the police welfare activities,” he said, adding that the drive would continue.

    Mumbai on Wednesday reported its highest one-day rise in COVID-19 cases so far with 5,185 new infections coming to light, which took the caseload in the country’s financial capital to 3,74,611.

    There are 39 active containment zones in the city, which include slums and chawls, while 432 buildings have been sealed so far after patients were found there, the civic body has said.