CHANDIGARH, March 20:
In view of fresh surge of COVID-19 in the state, Joint teams of the Punjab Police on Saturday, persuaded over 4400 Face Mask violators to undergo RT-PCR testing. In addition, 1800 people were challaned as they were found not wearing face masks. The Police also distributed free face masks to over 12000 people.
The move came a day after the Chief Minister Punjab Captain 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) Punjab Dinkar Gupta, while divulging 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 started a drive to penalise people found violating the safety protocols amid the fresh spike in COVID-19 cases in the state. He said that the Police in several districts have also collaborated with the Mobile Health Teams and around 31 such teams are working in tandem with Police teams 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.
DGP said that apart from getting people tested for COVID and issuing Challans, the Police have also registered 7 FIRs against violators in the state.
While appealing to the public to strictly adhere to safety protocols and leave their homes wearing face masks only, DGP Dinkar Gupta said that the COVID testing and challaning drive will continue to keep the people of Punjab safe from the virus.