As the number of Covid positive cases is increasing in Tripura, wearing of masks has been made mandatory in public places across the State to rein in the spread of Covid.
This will come into force from Tuesday (July 12, 2022), said State Surveillance Officer Dr Deep Kumar Debbarma while addressing a press conference in Agartala on Monday (July 11).
Official notification will be issued to this end on Tuesday.
He added that mass testing would start in offices and markets at the initial stage.
The decisions were announced following two meetings of the Health department officials and the State task force under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary.
With 22 fresh Covid positive cases detected, number of active patients increased to 122. Total 309 samples were tested and positivity rate spiked to 7.12 per cent, as per the official report.
Dr Debbarma also appealed to all to strictly follow the Covid appropriate behaviour and specially appealed to the persons with co-morbidities to go for testing if they develop any symptoms.
“Mass testing will commence in offices and market places at the initial stage. The situation will be reviewed after one week and the decision on mass testing in the entry points will be taken later on,” he said.
According to Dr. Debbarma, 131 persons have been infected by Covid over the past one week and West Tripura district contributed 82 cases alone.
Sharing Covid status of the past seven days, he said, 13 positive samples have been found positive on July 4 last, 7 on July 5, 15 on July 6, six on July 7, 32 cases on July 8, 36 on July 9 and 22 on July 10.
“This time, the coronavirus is infecting the people in every age group - starting from new born babies".
He continued and said, "Out of the total 131 positive cases-- three are in 0-10 years, 19 in 11-20 years, 43 in 21-30 years, 24 in 31-40 years, 13 in 41-50 years, 14 in 41-60 years and 15 cases found in above 60 years age group."
A 221-bed Dedicated Hospital for Covid treatment is functioning in GBP hospital where six persons with Covid infection are admitted; 125 infected persons are in home isolation, he told the reporters.