Bengaluru: Everybody is not required to wear a mask in Karnataka, amidst the COVID-19 contagion, a top official said on Tuesday.

“As a rule, everyone need not wear a mask,” said Health and Family Welfare Services Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Pandey in a statement.

Pandey listed four categories of people who are required to wear a mask. They include people with symptoms of cold, cough, fever and respiratory problems.

Those people caring for a COVID-19 suspect or patient and health workers attending to patients with respiratory symptoms.

“Those who are treating or handling COVID-19 suspects or patients need to wear N95 mask while others can wear triple layered surgical masks,” clarified Pandey.