Authorities make fervent appeal to wear masks

Hubballi/ Davanagere/ Chitradurga/ Mandya/ Mysuru: People’s representavies and the authorizes of different districts appealed to people to wear masks at all times when outside during Mask Day event across the state on Thursday. The event was held following a directive from the state government.
Inaugurating ‘Mask Day’ programme jointly organised by the Dharwad district administration, the taluk administration, Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation in Hubballi, industries minister Jagadish Shettar called upon people to be alert by wearing masks, applying sanitisers and maintaining social distancing.Mask Day activities should be carried out cautiously. “Everything cannot be controlled by imposing fine, but by people’s co-operation,” he said.
He also distributed masks and sanitisers to some people, after which a padayatra was taken out from Chennamma Circle to Durgadabail via major thoroughfares of the city.
The Davanagere district administration also took out a procession, wherein the participants wore masks and maintained social distancing. DC Mahantesh Bilagi highlighted the need to wear masks to avoid infection. “People in urban areas will be fined Rs 200 in case they don’t wear masks, while the fine is Rs 100 in villages limits. ZP, TP and GP staff must create must create awareness on this,” he said.
Each of the five persons, including an on-duty constable, were fined Rs 200 for not wearing masks, said SP Hanumantharaya.
Chitradurga ZP chairperson Shashikala Suresh Babu flagged off a jatha in the presence of SP Radhika G, DHO Dr Palaksha, ASHA workers and para-medical staff.
The jatha flagged off by MP Sumalatha Ambareesh in Manday passed through major streets of the city and created awareness about the importance of wearing masks.
Sumalatha called upon people to help the health authorities in the fight against Covid-19 and also take precautionary measures. “We have to explore all options in this fight. We should wear mask as science has showed that doing so will check infection,” she explained.
In Mysuru, people from various walks of life — police, civic body employees, elected representatives and officials of various departments — observed Mask Day.
Mysuru City police took out a march from Visvesaraya Circle in the city. Police commissioner handraguppa, who flagged off the march, called upon people to wear masks before stepping out their homes and follow the social distancing norm. Police personnel in the attire of Yama and Yamakinkara drew public attention.
Chandragupta said police will penalise the public if they found not wearing masks from Friday. Over 21 cases for violating the norms have been filed.
Mysuru DC Abhiram G Sankar, who flagged off the padayatra organised by Mysuru City Corporation at Agrahara Circle, asked devotees to wear mask compulsorily while visiting temples. “Close-down orders will be issued to temples violating the social distancing norms and SOPs,” he said.
CAPTION
Be safe than sorry: A roadside flower seller who was not wearing a mask was taken aback when two men dressed as Yama offered her a mask during a drive launched by the Mysuru city police to promote the use of face masks