Three teams formed by the Belagavi City Corporation are on the prowl who don’t wear a mask, not only on the roads but even inside the shops.
On Friday alone 986 persons were fined for not wearing masks by three teams of the health dept of the Belagavi city corporation.
The targets most were bikers who were not wearing masks while riding.
Even a few shop keepers who were not wearing masks inside their shop at Bapat Galli were fined, which amazed many.
Since May 1 a sum of Rs. 3,63,790 has been collected as fine for not wearing masks.
According to sources, the drive will continue and even those who spit will be fined.
“ If a person is driving his or her car and is alone, then there is no need for a mask. If more than one person is traveling in the car, then the mask is a must. Two-wheeler riders need not wear a mask if they are riding solo; it’s must if there is a pillion rider,” BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad told the Times of India, we aren’t sure if this is followed here.
The Union health ministry clarified that there is no directive from the ministry on wearing a mask when a person is in a car alone. But the traffic police can still impose a fine if the car has more than one person.
Amid the Covid-19 crisis, several states have issued guidelines mandating wearing a mask in a “public place”. But is a private car a “public place”? A 2019 Supreme Court ruling holds the answer.
These guidelines are issued utilizing the powers under the Disaster Management Act 2005 and the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897.