Odisha: Drive to make people put on masks

BHUBANESWAR: With the easing of several restrictions in the fourth phase of the lockdown, the commissionerate police have decided to launch a special drive to ensure that people in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack wear masks and keep a safe social distance.
The decision comes a day after chief minister Naveen Patnaik expressed his concern about the challenging times ahead in the fight against Covid-19 following the resumption of public transport, flights and trains.
Commissioner of police Sudhanshu Sarangi and additional commissioner of police Anup Kumar Sahoo on Wednesday held a meeting with the officers of police stations in the twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar and asked them to intensify the enforcement drive. The police will also mobilise market committees to ensure that people wear masks and maintain social distance while shopping.
“We will create awareness among the residents. Many people are beginning to feel that relaxation of lockdown restrictions means that Covid-19 is gone. They should realize that the virus is still active. Wearing masks in confined spaces is more important. Police cannot be present everywhere, especially indoors. Therefore, community mobilisation and support is important,” Sarangi said.
Sahoo said social distance enforcement squads were recently constituted in each police station. “We will start the special enforcement drive and awareness campaigns in every police area. Since we come across violation of social distancing norms in marketplaces, we will mobilize the local market committees to help the police enforce the rules of wearing masks and maintaining a social distance,” Sahoo said.
Sources said nearly 10,000 persons have been fined in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack during the last month for violating the lockdown norms. The police have repeatedly appealed to the people to act more responsibly. “Easy movement of vehicles, reopening of shops of different categories and parks may pose more risks in the near future. Experts apprehend the peak of Covid-19 spread in June and July. Unless people behave responsibly in public places and take the necessary precautions, it is difficult to fight the novel coronavirus,” another police officer said.
The sources said the police are likely to join hands with NGOs to create awareness among people. “We recently started an online art competition among schoolchildren on the theme of social distancing. We have also been sensitizing people to the virus through creative artworks and memes on social media,” the officer said.
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