The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has made wearing masks mandatory in Mumbai. Citing several studies pointing out that wearing masks can curb the spread of coronavirus, BMC has made it compulsory to wear masks in public places.
"Failing to wear masks may result in citizens getting arrested under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)," the BMC said in a circular.
Municipal Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi issued the circular stating that the decision was made in the public interest and make the wearing of the mask by any person who is moving in public places necessary. As per the circular, the citizens must be wearing a 3-ply or cloth mask.
The BMC in a circular has stated, “Any person moving around in his personal or official vehicle must be wearing masks. No person/ officer will attend any meeting/ gathering, a workplace without wearing these masks.”
The BMC circular said that the masks may be standard masks available with the chemist or they can even be homemade, washable masks and can be reused after proper washing and disinfecting them.
To enforce the directive, BMC has made it evident that those not wearing masks can be arrested. The circular comes hours after, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, in his address via social media, appealed to citizens to wear masks while going out.
Thackeray had asked the citizens to wear masks or even use a clean cotton handkerchief that can act as a mask.
In his address, he also announced the launch of fever clinics in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus or COVID-19. He urged the ex-servicemen who have worked in the medical division of the Army to come forward and serve in these times of crisis.
Emphasising on the importance of staying at home amid the outbreak, Thackeray said that there is no other option but to stay home in order to beat the coronavirus.
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