Covid norms thrown to the wind at Ludhiana markets

Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 9

Though the Police Department and the Health Department have intensified their drive to curb the second wave of Covid-19, one can see easily see shopkeepers and visitors roaming without wearing a protective mask in city markets. Many shopkeepers maintain that they cannot force customers to put on mask on their faces.

Daljit Singh, a shopkeeper dealing in Confectionary items in Ghumar Mandi, said earlier there was so much awareness and people never removed masks. They made sure to maintain distance from each other and if there was a rush at any shop, they would wait outside. But now there is no such fear and people can be heard saying, “There is no Covid now, we are all used to it”.

“Many of the visitors make fun of us if we wear masks but we keep quiet. We cannot force anyone to wear mask,” said the shopkeeper.

Even the visitors maintain that the vendors, shopkeepers are not much aware about how to handle masks. “While talking to buyers, they remove the mask and then again when they are interrupted by aware buyers, they wear masks but then it serves no purpose”, said Sukhmeen Kaur, a resident.

Meanwhile, the Mass Education and Media Wing (MEM) of the Health Department today collaborated with the Punjab Police to spread awareness regarding the government advisory on Covid-19. Those found violating the Covid norms were challaned during the drive.

A few police personnel were seen providing masks to those who were without masks. Kamlesh, a domestic helper, said, “I was covering my face with a shawl. However, a cop stopped and gave me a mask”.

Dr Rajesh Kumar Bagga, Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana, said people are not paying any heed to Covid precautions, which is a matter of concern for everyone. He said earlier people were following Covid norms which resulted in reduction of new cases. However, lately people started avoiding wearing masks, due to which the government had to increase the fine to Rs 1,000. The awareness teams on Wednesday specifically visited the densely populated areas of the city.