Heavy Fine to be Imposed on Both Customer & Shop Owner for not Maintaining Social Distancing: DC(SA)
Port Blair, April 25: The Deputy Commissioner (SA), Shri Suneel Anchipaka has expressed concern over the people not adhering to COVID appropriate behavior despite repeated appeals made by the Administration to deal with the current pandemic. Interacting with scribes, in the conference hall of the Office of the Deputy Commissioner here today, he said people should be responsible and always follow the COVID protocols viz. wearing of mask, use of hand sanitizer, maintain social distancing etc. He also appealed to the people above 45+ to get themselves vaccinated as early possible to protect themselves and their family from the virus. The District Administration has initiated several measures to check the spread of corona virus.
The Deputy Commissioner further said that for strict compliance of social distancing in market places and shops, only two persons will be allowed at a time inside all the shops viz. vegetable, petty shops, meat, chicken and wine shops of ANIIDCO from April 27, 2021. This he said is being done to maintain social distancing and protect the Islanders which is the priority of the Administration. He also clarified that it will be the sole responsibility of the shop owner to allow only two persons at a time. To monitor this, enforcement team has been constituted for monitoring violations in this regard in different areas and if they come across more than two persons in any shop, hefty fine will be imposed on both the customer as well as the shop owners besides sealing the shop.
The DC said that the District Administration has been compelled to take this step as repeated request to the general public to maintain social distancing is not being adhered to. “We don’t want to impose lockdown and for that every citizen of these Islands should cooperate.
The Deputy Commissioner also urged the local populace to follow COVID appropriate behaviours and help the Administration in its fight against the virus. He further reiterated that the five-fold strategy of Testing, Tracing, Treatment, COVID appropriate behaviour and vaccination will be meticulously implemented in South Andaman.