The State’s COVID-19 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) has recommended strict compliance of wearing masks in public areas, surveillance of international arrivals, and intensified sewage surveillance in Bengaluru. The issue of levying a penalty has been kept in abeyance as of now.
The TAC last week advised the State to reintroduce compulsory masks in public places. Advising that the services of Marshals and the police should be used to ensure strict compliance as a first step, the TAC had said that if there is no public cooperation, after five to seven days, the State should issue an order under the Disaster Management Act and enforce the same with penalty for defaulters.
However, at Monday’s TAC meeting it was decided to set aside the issue of levying a penalty on mask violators for the time being. “We have reiterated that the State should ensure strict compliance by using Marshals and the police in crowded public areas and closed spaces such as busy markets, exhibitions, marriage halls, shopping malls, buses, trains, offices, commercial establishments, educational institutions, and all air-conditioned halls,” M.K. Sudarshan, TAC chairman, told The Hindu after the meeting.
