Leh: As the COVID-19 cases are soaring, the Leh district administration has taken decisive action to curb the spread of the virus. Effective immediately, the administration has made it mandatory for all individuals to wear masks in public places.
The move comes in response to a recent surge in COVID-19 cases across the region. The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) CEO, Santosh Sukhadeve, issued an official order stating, “In view of rising COVID-19 cases in the district, precautionary measures to contain the spread of COVID-19… are hereby ordered to be followed strictly. People must ensure the compulsory wearing of facemasks in offices, workplaces, and public places, including public transport.”
India, as a whole, has witnessed a two percent increase in COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks. In the last 24 hours, the country has reported 636 new cases. Notably, Sunday marked a significant milestone, with India recording 841 cases in a single day, the highest daily count in seven months.
The current surge in cases has been primarily attributed to the emergence of the JN.1 sub-variant, which is rapidly spreading throughout the nation. Kerala has been particularly hard-hit, reporting the highest number of cases during this phase.
In Maharashtra, authorities confirmed that 29 individuals have tested positive for the new JN.1 variant of the coronavirus. The resurgence of cases comes as a surprise after daily case numbers dropped to double-digits in early December. The combination of the new variant and cold weather conditions has led to the recent uptick in infections.
