The government has decided to act tough against those not using face masks or cover. The violators could be penalised on the spot.
Also, directives have been issued to set up thermal scanners at public places and markets.
These measures were initiated during Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s meeting with members of Team 11 in Lucknow on Thursday.
Additional Chief Secretary Awanish Awasthi said that the chief minister handed out strict instructions on the use of face mask and cover. “The Home department and UP Police have been asked to start drives against those who do not use face masks. There should be a system of imposing on-the-spot fine against violators. Besides, the chief minister also directed that thermal scanners and ultra-red thermometers be installed in every district and made available at public places like offices and markets,” Awasthi told news persons on Thursday.
“The chief minister appealed to migrant workers and labourers not to head home on foot and be patient as efforts were on to bring everyone back,” he said.
Awasthi said that Shramik Special trains heading to UP were being operated continuously and so far 3.84 lakh migrant workers and their families had returned by 318 trains which include 174 trains from Gujarat, 51 from Maharashtra, 59 from Punjab, 12 from Karnataka and 5 from Kerala.
“A total of 81 trains are arriving in a day and approval for operating 174 new trains has also been given. This includes four trains being run daily from Delhi to Lucknow and Saharanpur to Lucknow. This has come as a huge relief to workers of Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad,” he said.
“Medical check-ups are being done at railway station of people returning by trains and later they are being sent to home quarantine,” he said.
Principal Secretary (Health) Amit Mohan Prasad said that the number of COVID-19 patients recovering after treatment was increasing continuously.
“On Thursday too, patients discharged from hospitals after being cured of coronavirus infection was higher than those infected. There are currently 1,730 active coronavirus cases while the number of cured patients is 1,973,” Prasad said. He added that since Monday, the number of cured patients has been more than the infected ones.
He also said that 5,833 samples were tested on Wednesday besides 370 pool samples and 27 persons were found positive for coronavirus infection