Karnataka’s COVID-19 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), that met here on Monday to take stock of a slight uptick in cases, has recommended reintroducing compulsory face masking in public places.
Advising that the services of marshals and police should be used to ensure strict compliance as a first step, the TAC has said that if there is no public cooperation, after five to seven days, the State should issue an order under Disaster Management Act and enforce the same with penalty for defaulters.
“After reviewing the current situation of COVID-19 in the State and Bengaluru in particular, it is recommended that stricter actions should be taken immediately, starting from Bengaluru. Compulsory face masking (use of N95 face masks) should be reintroduced in public places, crowded 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 including cinema halls,” stated the TAC’s report.
