COVID-19 | Collectors in TN called for public fines to be imposed on masks

In view of the increasing number of new COVID-19 infections in Tamil Nadu, Chief Secretary Rajiv Ranjan on Tuesday directed district collectors to strictly enforce the guidelines and impose fines on those who do not have facemasks while in public places.

During a meeting to review the COVID-19 scenario across the state, Mr. Ranjan directed the collectors to strictly enforce the standard operating procedures issued by the government under the Public Health Act and impose penalties on the violators. Respected local bodies, health, police and revenue department officials have to ensure compliance.

“During the review, it was revealed that the reason behind the increase in cases is non-adherence to the facemask norm, while attending family and social functions and meetings and non-compliance with various standard operating procedures issued by the government,” official release stated in.

There have also been cases in which those individuals with asymmetrical and minor symptoms have been advised that home quarantine is not being followed and which has spread the infection in their family. “There have also been cases in which groups have been formed in banks and schools, in which precautionary measures have not been taken adequately,” he said.

The official release said that the number of COVID-19 cases in Tamil Nadu was less than 500 in a single day, but it increased to 1.2%. “Specifically, it is up 2% in Chennai and Coimbatore districts and above 1% in Chengalpattu, Thiruvallur, Tiruppur, Kanchipuram, Thanjavur and Nagapattinam districts.”

Shri Ranjan also directed the district collectors to ensure that the guidelines issued by the government are complied with at all places, including companies, banks, government and private offices, factories, schools, wedding halls, eateries, tourist spots and Places of worship should be included. He also ordered the introduction of RT-PCR tests for people with no delayed symptoms.

The number of people who tested positive for COVID-19 has increased to about 800 individuals a day. In the first week of March, the number of individuals on treatment, which was less than 4,000, is also increasing.

Strictly enforcing control area norms, deploying officers to monitor vulnerable locations, increasing the number of fever camps in a large number of cases, vaccinating eligible persons and monitoring those on quarantine issued by the Chief Secretary Gone are the other posts. meeting.

The meeting was attended by Director General of Police JK Tripathi, Revenue Secretary Atulya Mishra, Commissioner of Revenue Administration. Phanindra Reddy, Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan and other senior officials were present.