Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Sep 24: Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner (DC) Dr Rajendra K V, clarified that wearing of masks is mandatory in all rural and urban local body limits and also the city corporation limits. "It is mandatory for people employed in hotels, restaurant, commercial complexes, malls, shops and also those visiting them to wear masks. Social distancing norms must be maintained at any cost. It is the responsibility of shop owners to strictly enforce social distance and other rules. They need to take all precautions to make sure that rules are not violated," he clarified.

"The shopkeepers have to install automatic sanitiser system in the front and encourage customers to use them. Health of all the employees should be checked every day and the shops should be sanitised every three days. Staff should be deployed in the front for subjecting customers to thermal scanning. If symptoms of fever are observed, their name, telephone numbers and address should be noted down and these particulars should be passed on to the health officer of their jurisdiction or city corporation. Immediately on getting this information, the city corporation or district administration should send the persons concerned to Covid care centres by ambulance," he stated.

He said that the Mangaluru city commissioner, and chief officers of local bodies, should appoint a nodal officer in their jurisdictions to ensure that Covid rules are followed without fail and the district administration should be kept posted. At the time of unloading fish from boats and engaging in fish trade, government guidelines should be followed without fail. The deputy director of fisheries department should pay special attention and keep an eye on them, he added.

The DC said that in case of shops which are found violating rules relating to wearing of masks, social distancing etc they will be fined Rs 1,000 for the first offence, and the fine will go up to Rs 2,000 and 3,000 for second and third violations for which warning sill be issued. If conditions are found to have been violated more than thrice, their licences should be cancelled. For this, the local bodies have to implement bylaws for the same, he instructed. Non-wearing of masks attracts Rs 200 fine in cities and Rs 100 in other areas.

KSRTC passengers should wear masks and follow other rules. The divisional controller has to take steps to ensure the same. In case of private buses, autos, cabs etc if there is violation, the regional transport officers should penalise the vehicle owners. Police officers too have to regularly conduct checks, the DC said.