Will Maharashtra further ease Covid-19 curbs, drop mask mandate? State Health Minister answers

Maharashtra currently has 14,525 active coronavirus cases. 

New Delhi: Amid declining Covid-19 cases, the coronavirus-related restrictions are likely to be eased further in Maharashtra next month but the mask mandate will continue to remain in place, Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Monday (February 21, 2022).

Tope said that the state task force on Covid-19 favours the easing of curbs, but a final decision on the issue will be taken by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. 

"I expect further relaxation in restrictions next month. The Chief Minister will take a decision on this," he said. 

"Use of face masks, hand sanitiser and social distancing should continue in a big country like ours...We cannot stop such measures immediately in the pandemic," the minister added. 

Maharashtra on Monday reported less than 1,000 fresh coronavirus cases at 806, a drop from 1,437 registered a day ago, and four more deaths linked to the infection, while 2,696 patients were discharged following recovery. With this, the overall tally of cases has increased to 78,59,237, while the death toll jumped to 1,43,586.