DDMA COVID meeting: Fine for not wearing masks may go; staff, equipment in hospitals to be scaled down in phased manner

New Delhi: The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) may lift the Rs 500 fine that it has so far imposed for not wearing masks in public places. With the national capital witnessing a steady decline in the number of COVID-19 cases, the DDMA also decided to scale down the deployment of staff and equipment in hospitals in a phased manner.

The decision was taken during a DDMA meeting on Thursday. Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena chaired the meeting that was also attended by chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. In the previous meeting that took place in April, the DDMA had made masks mandatory and prescribed a fine of Rs 500 against defaulters.

"Deployment of staff and equipment in hospitals will be scaled down in a calibrated and phased manner and health department will prepare an action plan... In the Thursday meeting, it was decided to enhance the surveillance of ILI-SARI cases to detect any early warnings," an official was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Earlier during the day, Kejriwal urged people to get their booster dose of COVID-19. "The DDMA meeting was held under LG sir's chairmanship. Took stock of the current situation of coronavirus. Several key decisions were taken. I appeal to all Delhiites to get booster doses of the vaccine. Keep your family safe from coronavirus in the festive season. Follow all the protocols to protect yourself from coronavirus," Kejriwal said in a tweet.

The group also agreed to increase the percentage of precautionary dose of vaccination to 40-50 per cent from the existing level of 24 per cent.