Few cases, few curbs: With Covid curve flat, norm breach fines dip in Capital
NEW DELHI: The Capital in March reported around 600 instances of mask mandate violations every day, down from around 5,000 a day in January (amid the city’s fifth wave of the pandemic), according to a Delhi government report, a dip that comes amid a sharp downturn in the city’s Covid-19 caseload.
The report, which HT has seen, said that on January 8, authorities fined 5,073 people a total amount of ₹1,02,52,500. Fines dipped to just ₹383,600 (imposed on 604 people) on March 2. On the same day, Delhi reported only 41 distancing norm violations, compared to January 8, when the city reported 74 instances of such violations.
Delhi has witnessed a signifirecorded cant improvement in Covid-19 situation over the past few weeks after a sharp surge in daily cases during the peak of the Omicron wave in mid-January.
The wave saw more single-day cases being reported than ever, but also saw a majority of infected persons recover.
Since then, daily infections have returned to levels last towards the end of December last year.
The relatively flat infection curve has also prompted state authorities to strip the city of all Covid-19 curbs, keeping in place only masking and distancing mandates.
A senior Delhi government official said the authorities were doing their best to enforce Covid norms. “In a Delhi Disaster Management Authority meeting on February 25, it was stressed that the district authorities should continue to ensure adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour, including wearing of masks and maintaining social distancing. In all meetings, authorities are asked to ensure surveillance, enforcement and management of Covid norms,” said the official, requesting anonymity.
An official of south-east district said that enforcement teams are active in crowd-sensitive areas such as markets and Metro stations so that people continue to follow protocols.
Meanwhile, districts said they are trying to spread awareness about distancing and masks even though teachers from government schools, who were earlier engaged in enforcement teams, have returned to schools.
Districts’ own teams, mostly comprising local officials such as tehsildars and civil defence volunteers and others are working to enforce norms, said officials.
Dr Jugal Kishore, head of the department of community medicine at Safdarjung Hospital, said, “The restoration of normalcy is a good step because a majority of Delhi residents have been vaccinated and have developed antibodies through infection.”
ON JANUARY 8, 5,073 PEOPLE WERE FINED ₹1,02,52,500, WHEREAS THE FINE AMOUNT CAME DOWN TO JUST ₹3,83,600 (IMPOSED ON 604 PEOPLE) ON MARCH 2