Alarmed over the steady increase in the number of COVID-19 cases across the State, Punjab Government on Thursday enhanced the fines for violating home isolation and social distancing norms.
From now on, the COVID-19 patients violating home isolation instructions in Punjab will have to shell out Rs 5,000 as fine, as per the new guidelines announced by the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh.
As of now, there are 951 patients in home isolation across the State, and nearly 200 have been challaned for violating the home quarantine instructions. Earlier, the State government had imposed Rs 2000 fine for violating home quarantine instructions.
Besides, the Chief Minister also announced imposition of Rs 5,000 as fine for owners of restaurants and commercial eating places violating social distancing norms, as a deterrent against defiance of the restrictions put in place to heck the spread of the pandemic in the State.
Further, violation of social distancing norms and social gatherings of more than the permitted strength will lead to penalty amounting to a whopping Rs 10,000, the Chief Minister said at a videoconference meeting to review the COVID-19 situation and preparedness in the State.
The fines or penalties announced by the Chief Minister are in addition to those announced earlier, in May, for not wearing a mask in public places (Rs 500), violation of home quarantine instructions (Rs 2000) and spitting at public places (Rs 500).
Under the existing guidelines, shops or commercial places are liable to pay Rs 2,000 for violation of social distancing norms, while for buses and cars such violations are punishable by Rs 3000 and Rs 2000 fine respectively, and in the case of auto-rickshaws or two-wheelers, the fine stands at Rs 500.
The additional fines come even as instances of violations continue to be reported from across the state, with average daily challans for not wearing masks standing at around 5000, as per DGP Dinkar Gupta.
Capt Amarinder directed the police to take stern steps to ensure strict enforcement of mandatory wearing of masks, as per the guidelines issued by the State Government.
The Chief Minister also appealed to the Heads and Managements of various religious institutions to ensure enforcement of social distancing restrictions and other COVID-19 safety guidelines, including masks, during visits to religious places in the State. He urged them to make regular announcements in this regard through public address systems.
Capt Amarinder reiterated his earlier appeal to the Kisan Unions not to come out on the roads to protest against the central government’s anti-farmer Ordinances but to defer any such movements to check the spread of Covid.
INSTALL MASK VENDING MACHINES
In another initiative, the Chief Minister has directed that mask vending machines be installed at vantage points such as bus stands etc.
SET UP TWO MORE PLASMA BANKS
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister directed Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan and health experts to work out the modalities for setting up Plasma Banks also in the Government Medical Colleges at Fardikot and Amritsar, in addition to Patiala, where the state’s first Plasma Bank was inaugurated on July 21. On the first day itself, four donors had given their plasma the Bank.
He also appealed to those already cured of COVID-19 to donate their plasma to help out those fighting the disease. The Chief Secretary informed the meeting that IAS and PCS officers who have recovered are also being encouraged to lead the way by donating their plasma.
DGP Dinkar Gupta said that three policemen, including one Punjab Home Guards jawan, had also donated convalescent plasma at Patiala and DMC.
PRACTISE EXTREME CAUTION: CM TO COPS
Expressing concern over the rising number of cases, the Chief Minister called for extreme caution and directed the DGP to ensure strict enforcement of all the norms. Pointing out that 28 police personnel at Nathana police station in Bathinda district had tested positive, the Chief Minister advised the employees with fever or flu-like symptoms not to come to office but to get themselves tested at the earliest.
All the 28 cops were primary contacts of an ASI who had tested positive some days back, the DGP said. Gupta informed the meeting that another such case had been reported from Sub-Division Lehra, where a total of 33 personnel (about 40 percent of total force) had tested positive at Lehra police station, two police posts, and DSP office in a space of two-three days earlier this week.
KHARKHAN BSF CAMPUS EMERGES AS SUPER SPREADER
He further disclosed that the Kharkhan Border Security Force (BSF) Campus, which had turned into a super-spreader, had reported 126 of the 723 samples whose test reports had so far been received. Results in 133 cases were pending while another 127 were yet to be sampled. The positive cases were all asymptomatic and had been sent to COVID care unit at BSF HQ Jalandhar.
STEP UP SURVEILLANCE, TESTING IN LUDH, JAL: CM
Citing the high positivity rate in Ludhiana and Jalandhar, the Chief Minister directed the Health Department to step up surveillance and testing in these districts to contain further spread of the pandemic. Jalandhar currently has the maximum of 18 micro-containment zones in the State, Dr KK Talwar informed the meeting.