Wearing masks made mandatory in southern India due to rising COVID incidence

Wearing face masks has been made mandatory for people over 60 years of age in the Indian state of Karnataka due to the rising number of coronavirus cases, the Karnataka government said, Report informs via The Indian Express.

Karnataka authorities have decided to make wearing masks compulsory for this category of citizens after an increase in the incidence of COVID-19 was observed in neighboring Kerala and cases of infection with the pyrola variant of the coronavirus were detected (BA.2.86).

In the past week, the number of cases in Kerala has tripled and 10 deaths were reported between December 1 and December 17. The state is currently recording more than 300 COVID-19 cases per day.

On Monday, India's Ministry of Health issued an order to health facilities in states and union territories across the country to strengthen control over the coronavirus situation. The published document notes that the first cases of infection with the BA.2.86 coronavirus variant have been detected in India. As the Ministry of Health emphasized, “although the World Health Organization has officially declared the end of the pandemic, COVID-19 continues to spread” and “it is extremely important to maintain constant vigilance regarding the situation with coronavirus.”