Not following COVID-19 guidelines could prove to be costly in Nagaland

Kohima: The Nagaland government took an initiative to find people not following COVID-19 guidelines to be fined. People not wearing masks will be fined Rs 100/- and Rs 500/- on institutions without provisions of handwash and sanitiser with immediate effect.

The Nagaland Disaster Management Authority observed that not wearing masks, especially in public places, not following social distancing and not sanitising hands in high-risk settings, often pose an as serious risk of spread of infection not only to defaulters but also to people around them, said Chief Secretary J Alam.

Hence, in the exercise of the powers conferred under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, and given guidelines issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 the government took an initiative to make it compulsory for everyone to wear face masks and also provide hand sanitiser or handwash facility in all public establishments, including offices, educational institutions, religious places and shops.

Violation of the SOPs and guidelines would lead to a penalty of the defaulters.

Police, transport officers and the concerned urban local body were given the responsibility to enforce out the order.

Nagaland till Friday has reported 9,638 COVID-19 cases of which 725 are active.

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