Mask up even at home to halt spread: Government

New Delhi, April 26

The Centre today said the risk of runaway spread of Covid infection was real unless people began practising Covid-appropriate behaviour now and states resorted to tough local lockdown measures to curb steep surge.

After India logged 3,52,991 daily cases in a new world record for the fifth day, the Health Ministry said most states had crossed previous infection peaks by several times. The Centre had last night advised lockdown in cities and districts reporting over 10 per cent positivity for a week and more than 60 per cent occupancy of oxygen or ICU beds.

The advisory suggested at least 14-day strict containment in such areas. Karnataka today announced a two-week lockdown from Tuesday and Punjab also announced restrictions – night curfew on weekdays and weekend curfew.

The Ministry of Health has sought people’s participation in the Covid fight. It warned, “People must wear masks, maintain physical distancing and hand hygiene. Failure to do so may entail grave consequences. Without social distancing one person can infect 406 persons in a month; with 50 per cent reduction in exposure, 15 persons will be infected; and with 75 per cent reduction in exposure, 2.5 persons will be infected.”

The focus is on states with more than 1 lakh active cases eac h— Maharashtra (7,00,207), UP (2,97,616), Karnataka (2,62,181), Kerala (2,19,221), Rajasthan (1,36,702), Chhattisgarh (1,23,835), Gujarat (1,15,006), TN (1,05,180).

The country saw 2,812 deaths in a day. — TNS