Maharashtra prohibits stepping out without a mask

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government issued an order on Wednesday prohibiting people from stepping out of their homes without a mask, a development that came in the wake of a spurt in the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in cities such as Mumbai and Pune.

The order was first issued by Mumbai municipal commissioner Praveen Pardeshi, who said that masks should be worn compulsorily by all citizens including government staff if they step out of their homes. Masks are to be put on even while working in those offices, such as those related to essential services and government offices, which are currently allowed to function. In his order the commissioner said that anyone found violating the order would be booked under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code and also arrested or fined.

The move came in the backdrop of the number of infected people in Mumbai increasing to 696. Shortly after the order, the state government issued a resolution and imposed the order in Pune as well as Mumbai Metropolitan Region, which includes Thane, Kalyan-Dombivi and Navi Mumbai.


A few days ago, the Nashik police arrested a person for not wearing a mask in public.