NEW DELHI, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Local health authorities reported 1,042 new COVID-19 cases and two more deaths from the pandemic in the Indian capital and its surrounding areas on Friday evening.

       In response to the surging infections, Delhi's Directorate of Education issued a fresh set of Standard Operating Procedures for schools' teachers, students and guests.

       The local authorities have already made it mandatory again for people to wear face masks as a precautionary measure.

       A few weeks ago, the compulsion of wearing face masks in public places was lifted as the pandemic situation improved.

       Earlier on Friday, the federal government's data showed 2,451 new COVID-19 cases and 54 new deaths detected across the South Asian country. Friday marked the third consecutive day when the daily new cases surpassed the 2,000-mark in number in India, after lower tallies were reported in recent weeks.