'Mask Usage is Declining': Health Ministry Warns Against Laxity in COVID Norms

Dr VK Paul raised concerns over the declining usage of masks in India, despite the emergence of the Omicron variant.

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Dr VK Paul, member of the NITI Aayog, on Friday, 10 December, raised concerns over the declining usage of masks in India, despite the emergence of the new Omicron COVID-19 variant.

“As far as protection capability is concerned, we are now operating at a risky and unacceptable level. Mask usage is declining. We have to remember that both vaccines and masks are important. We should learn from the global situation.”

Dr VK Paul, as quoted by news agency ANI

"WHO is warning against the decline in mask usage," he noted.

Union Health Ministry's Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal, speaking at the press briefing, said that the World Health Organization has highlighted that public health measures should be abided by on a continual basis, besides vaccination, and that laxity in public health measures has led to a surge in cases in Europe.

“Surveillance, effective screening, monitoring of international travellers and health infrastructure upgradation is being done. States have been notified to increase their surveillance and actively test passengers arriving from other countries.”

Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry

The Omicron case tally in India rose to 26, after another case was detected in Mumbai’s Dharavi on Friday, 10 December, according to the latest statistics provided by the Union health ministry.

Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal stated that all the reported Omicron cases have mild symptoms and account for 0.04 percent of the total cases detected.

A review meeting on COVID is scheduled for 2:30 pm on Saturday, and is expected to be attended by Dr VK Paul, secretary (Direct Benefit Transfer), and secretary (Health Ministry), among others.

(With inputs from ANI.)