New Delhi: Citing the uptick in COVID cases, the DGCA has asked the airlines to strictly enforce COVID-19 protocols, including mask mandate inside the aircraft. Airlines have been advised to ensure that passengers are wearing face masks properly throughout the journey and ensure proper sensitisation of the passengers through various platforms, the regulator said.
In a statement, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said it will be conducting “random checks” on aircraft across the country to see if the COVID-19 protocol is being enforced or not. The statement added that heavy penalties would be levied if flyers were found violating the rules.
The National capital reported a two-fold rise in its hospitalization in a fortnight. Since August 1, the hospitals’ ICUs have doubled. As per the statistics by the state health bulletin, an upward trajectory for hospitalizations is observed. From 307 the tally rose to 588 while 205 remained on oxygen support and 22 on ventilator support.
India on Wednesday reported 9,062 fresh infections with the daily positivity rate at 2.49 per cent. However, the active tally came down to 1,05,058 the ministry data stated. The death toll climbed to 5,27,134 with 36 new fatalities added, 6 out of them being reconciled deaths from Kerala.