Coronavirus in Coimbatore: Bus carrying 60 passengers seized

COIMBATORE: Coimbatore district collector K Rajamani and other officials on Saturday seized a private mofussil bus full of passengers for not following social distancing norms, in force to curb the spread of Covid-19. The collector ordered cancellation of its permit.
The collector and his team checked vehicles entering Coimbatore district on the inter-district border at Thekkalur check post on the Avinashi Road on Saturday evening.
The collector stopped the private bus with 60 passengers coming to Coimbatore from Tirupur. The maximum permitted number of passengers is 25.
The collector ordered police to register a case against the bus driver and the conductor.
A case was also registered against an minivan driver who refused to reveal that the vehicle carried nine passengers, which is way over the limit (driver and three passengers).
The collector asked the officials to seize 15 more vehicles for operating without any valid documents.
He ordered police to register cases against those who are allowing a higher number of passengers to travel in their vehicles.
“We have intensified the prohibitory orders to control the spread of Covid-19. We have escalated vehicle checks on inter-district border check posts. Our health department team at Thekkalur check post has been taking samples for the Covid-19 test from people who return from Chennai and surrounding districts,” said Rajamani.
Rajamani stated that people are coming to Coimbatore by flights, trains, and road. “We have identified around 100 people with Covid-19 symptoms since June 2020 and they are admitted to ESI Hospital. More than 100 people from other districts with Covid-19, symptoms are also admitted to ESI Hospital. More than 17,000 people are advised to self-quarantine in Coimbatore district,” said Rajamani.
He said that the city municipal corporation had collected Rs 8.5 lakh and local bodies in the rural areas had collected Rs 2.5 lakh fine from people for not wearing masks.
“Coffee shops, bakeries, and hotels should make their customers maintain social distancing. If our officials find any violations, the shops will immediately be sealed,” said Rajamani.
Coimbatore city police commissioner Sumit Sharan and Deputy Commissioner of Police ( Law & Order) L Balaji Saravanan visited the city border check posts on Saturday. The commissioner of police motivated the police personnel to check the vehicles effectively and verify e-pass.