Covid-19: Gurugram's positivity 8.5 per cent; administration asks government to bring back masks

Sumedha Sharma

Gurugram, April 13

As positivity rate in Gurugram touches alarming 8.5 per cent, the local administration has written to the state government seeking return of mask mandate.

Gurugramhas been reporting a steady increase in Covid cases and reported 129 cases yesterday setting alarm bells ringing not just for the state but even the Central government that taking a cognisance has asked district authorities to take steps.

The local administration held a special meeting with all private hospitals and mandated testing of entire staff, patients and symptomatic attendants in hospitals.

Testing infrastructure has been increased and city shall go ahead with 5,000 tests a day as compared to 1,500 currently.

“There has been a sudden spike. One sample in 10 samples is testing positive and the daily number of positive cases is increasing per day at alarming rate. We have asked all private hospitals to gear up. Bring back mandatory Covid testing, triage areas, screening of attendants, etc. We have also asked government to review its orders of masks not being mandatory,” DC Nishant Yadav told The Tribune.

The authorities are also worried about poor interest in booster or precautionary doses as on an average only 200-odd doses are being administered daily.

“We are trying to provide booster doses at doorsteps and health department is working on same. We don’t need to panic but caution has to be maintained. People are requested to maintain Covid protocols,” said Yadav.