Andhra Pradesh govt imposes ban on spitting in public places

TNN | Updated: Apr 13, 2020, 11:22 IST

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VIJAYAWADA: The state government prohibited consuming smokeless/chewable tobacco or non-tobacco products and spitting in public places with immediate effect. An order with regard to it was released on Sunday by invoking the provisions under the Epidemic Diseases Act and the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
The order, which was released under the name of special chief secretary, medical, health and family welfare, KS Jawahar Reddy, stated that the Covid-19 Pandemic has brought to the fore the importance of hygiene and cleanliness in both personal as well as public sphere. “It is of utmost need to impose restrictions on unhealthy practices that may potentially lead to spread of such viruses and other infections. The habit of public spitting poses a serious threat to the spread of such infections,” read the order. Violators will be punished under the provisions of Indian Penal Code -1860 and Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPc).
The government also ordered the public to refrain from consuming the smokeless/chewable tobacco or non-tobacco product.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recently issued an appeal to the general public to not consume and spit smokeless tobacco in public. As per the appeal, chewing these products increases the production of ‘saliva’, followed by a strong urge to spit. Spitting in the public places will potentially enhance the spread of the Covid-19 virus.