Ninety-six per cent of sampled respondents have told a nationwide online survey that “most people” in their localities do not use face masks or wear them improperly — despite calls for caution by health authorities and an upsurge in Covid-19 infections.

The survey by a community social media platform called Local Circles found only 4 per cent of the around 12,900 respondents from 346 districts across India reporting that most people in their areas used face masks and wore them properly.

Over half the respondents — 56 per cent — said most people did not even have a face mask.

India’s seven-day average of daily new infections has risen over threefold from 2,500 cases in mid-May to 7,800 cases on June 14. The count of active Covid-19 cases increased in 27 states on Wednesday, with the largest rises in Maharashtra (787), Delhi (616) and Kerala (406).