Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 20
In view of the fresh surge of Covid-19 cases in the state, joint teams of the Punjab Police on Saturday persuaded over 4,400 face mask violators to undergo RT-PCR testing. In addition, 1,800 persons were issued challans as they were found not wearing masks. The police also distributed free face masks to over 12,000 persons.
The move came a day after Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh ordered enforcement of face masks in the state and directed the police and health authorities to take all those moving around and loitering in public areas, and on the roads and streets, without face masks to the nearest RT-PCR testing facility for taking nasopharyngeal swabs to ensure that they are not asymptomatic Covid cases.
Director General of Police (DGP) Dinkar Gupta, while giving details, appealed to the people of the state to wear face masks, comply with number limits on social gatherings and avoid crowded places, for their own protection and that of their fellow citizens.
He said the Punjab Police had started a drive to penalise people found violating the safety protocols amid the fresh spike in Covid-19 cases in the state. He said the police in several districts had also collaborated with the mobile health teams and around 31 such teams were working in tandem with them to conduct RT-PCR tests on the spot.
"Jalandhar Rural and SBS Nagar are leading in the RT-PCR testing with 800 and 541 tests conducted on violators in a single day, respectively," he said. Besides getting people tested for Covid and issuing challans, the police had registered seven FIRs against violators in the state, the DGP added.
Appealing to the public to strictly adhere to safety protocols and leave their homes wearing masks only, DGP Dinkar Gupta said the Covid testing and challan drive would continue to keep the people of Punjab safe from the virus.
from The Tribune https://ift.tt/3sju5Nb
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