ISLAMABAD, June 2 (NNN-APP) – The Islamabad district administration, announced to impose a fine of up to 3,000 rupees (about 18 U.S. dollars) on people for not wearing face masks at public places, in a bid to control the spread of COVID-19, the Pakistani capital’s deputy commissioner (DC) said Monday.
Wearing mask was already mandatory for employees of factories, shopping malls and other stores, ever since they were allowed to operate, after the ease in lock-down by the government last month, but now it is also mandatory for the general public, under the directives of the health ministry, DC Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat, said.
Earlier, Special Assistant to the Pakistani Prime Minister, on Health, Zafar Mirza, said, the government made it mandatory for the general public to wear masks in mosques, markets, shopping malls, on public transport, trains and commercial flights, and in other crowded areas, to avoid the spread of the disease.
The DC said, initially an awareness campaign will be launched, for which special teams have been formed, which will visit the city on daily basis and tell those who are not wearing masks to follow the rules, and after a few days fine will be imposed on those who do not cooperate with the authorities and keep on ignoring the directives.
Shafqaat said, health experts said that, the virus transmission can be stopped by 75 percent, by wearing masks, and they are hopeful to control the spread of the virus by encouraging people to adopt it as their lifestyle.
The number of COVID-19 cases is rising in the country, including in the capital. A sharp surge in the number of disease infected people has been witnessed, since the ease in lock-down.– NNN-APP
