Those sans mask to be tested for Covid in Patiala

Tribune News Service

Patiala, March 19

In view of the rising Covid cases, the district administration and the police have now decided to take those violating guidelines to the nearest testing facilities. The task would be carried out by newly constituted mask surveillance teams (MSTs).

Patiala SSP Vikram Jeet Duggal said the police have deployed four MSTs — one each in Patiala city, Rajpura, Samana and Nabha — along with the local area police for enforcing mask-related guidelines to prevent the spread of Covid.

Duggal said MSTs were creating awareness, distributing masks and issuing challans to the violators. To enforce the compulsory wearing of face masks, teams have been directed to take all those roaming in public areas without a face mask to the nearest RT-PCR testing facility and getting them tested.

Duggal said: “Given the sudden rise in Covid-19 cases and taking the government’s recent guidelines into account, the administration has started taking strict measures, including imposing the night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am and issuing challans to those not wearing a mask.”

This month, the police have so far booked 2,500 persons for various violations.

The SSP appealed to all citizens to follow Covid guidelines (wear a mask, maintain social distance, frequent hand washing/sanitisation, and to come out of the house if necessary) issued by the government to prevent further spread of the virus.