Lackadaisical attitude among people on wearing masks
The Hindu
DINDIGUL
Despite COVID-19 cases on the rise across the State and in Dindigul, mask-wearing practice has been waning among the public.
“We are being checked for wearing masks at the entrance of the Collectorate building, but the laxity prevails inside the building among fellow petitioners, public and even the government staff,” said farmer from R. Kombai who was present at the recently held farmers’ grievances redressal meeting.
Many government staff during the meeting were caught flouting the mandatory mask rule or sporting them well below the chin, thus defying the very purpose.
T. Rajkumar, a TNSTC conductor on a bus plying from Madurai to Dindigul, said there is lack of strict enforcement on mask-wearing from the officials’ side. “People seem to have forgotten how much difficulty we faced when COVID-19 cases peaked. As a person who has first-hand knowledge of being affected with COVID-19, I always carry a couple of masks with me,” he said.
He called for bringing back the old rule of “no mask, no entry into buses” and imposing strict fines for people to adhere to rules, he added.
At many government functions held recently, mask-wearing and social-distancing norms went for a toss, especially in cramped public places, and a few which were held in educational institutions. It was no different a scene, during the protests staged by various political parties, organisations as well as the public.
Speaking to The Hindu, Corporation Commissioner S. Sivasubramanian said that the sanitary inspectors have been directed to impose fines on people for non-wearing of masks, especially in crowded places. “We need to avoid COVID-19 clusters. Hence officials have been instructed to concentrate on enforcing mask-wearing in air-conditioned commercial establishments, social gathering in a closed hall, fish markets etc,” he said.