New Delhi, Apr 1: Maharashtra, Delhi, Telangana, West Bengal have announced complete relaxation of the Covid-19 norms starting from April in view of the steady decline in the Covid-19 pandemic situation, notwithstanding the fresh surge being witnessed in China. While this means all pandemic curbs now stand withdrawn, whether to wear a mask or not is debatable as Maharashtra and Delhi have done away with the penalty for not wearing the mask in public places.
Mask is the first line of defence against Covid-19, not wearing which was made a punishable offence in the last two years of the pandemic.
Maharashtra has withdrawn its mandatory mask rule starting from April 2, but if anyone wants to wear one, they can of course wear it, health minister Rajesh Tope said.
Like Maharashtra, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority has also decided that there will be no fine for not wearing a mask. In Delhi, the fine was ₹500. Telangana too has withdrawn its mask mandate.
The West Bengal government has lifted all restrictions imposed because of the pandemic but said the mask mandate will continue.
