Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 29 ()The Kerala government onWednesday made wearing of masks mandatory in public placeswith a fine of up to Rs 5,000 for repeat offenders and flaggedincidence of other fever cases as the state's COVID-19 tallyrose to 485 with ten more testing positive for the contagion. It also decided to promulgate an ordinance to 'defer' apart of the salary of its employees for funding the COVID-19relief activities, a day after the Kerala High Court stayed agovernment order for salary cut, observing that it lackedlegal backing.
A TV journalist, who became the first from the media totest positive for coronavirus in the state, and threehealthcare workers were among the ten new cases, ChiefMinister Pinarayi Vijayan said. Media personnel need to be careful and should exercisecaution while engaging in news gathering, he told reportershere.
Announcing the decision to make wearing of maskscompulsory, he urged people to maintain personal hygiene andkeep their locality clean as other fevers were also beingreported from various places in the state. "Masks, social distancing and hand wash must be part ofour daily routine," Vijayan said, adding that, police wouldpenalise those who fail to use masks in public places. DGP Loknath Behera later said masks have been made a mustin the state and those not wearing it in public places andwork spaces will be fined Rs 200 for first time offence. "Penal action in the form of fine will be imposed onthose who fail to use masks in public places or in their workspace. Repeated offenders will be fined Rs 5,000," he said ina release. Of the new cases, six were reported from Kollam, two eachfrom Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod. "Five persons from Kollam were infected through contact,while one came to the state from Andhra Pradesh. One personfrom Thiruvananthapuram came from Tamil Nadu and one inKasaragod got it from a contact," Vijayan said. Ten people have tested negative and the state presentlyhad 123 active cases, while the aggregate stood at 485.
At least 20,673 people, including 501 in isolation wardsof various hospitals, are under observation in the state wherea total of 24,952 samples had been sent for testing, Vijayansaid. Vijayan said the state cabinet decided to bring anordinance to defer the salary of government employees forfunding Covid-19 relief works as the state's economy was in ashambles. "The pandemic has affected the economy of the state.That's why we had to take a decision on deferring the six dayssalary for five months of the government employees. But thehigh court said the government order lacked legal sanctity. "Hence, in accordance with the high court order, the statecabinet has decided to pass an ordinance in this regard,"Vijayan said.
Earlier, Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac said as perthe ordinance, the state government has been empowered todefer 25 per cent of the salary of the government employees incase of a disaster. "The state government can take a decision on giving backthe deferred amount within six months. These are the twooperative provisions," Isaac said. As part of the next stage of 'Break the Chain' campaign,people have been asked to desist from spitting inpublicplaces. Kerala police has registered 4,435 cases across the stateon Wednesday and arrested4,300 people for travelling inviolation of the lockdown protocol. Kannur district with 47 cases has the highest number ofCOVID-19 patients in the state followed by Kottayam with 18and Idukki with 14 cases. Kasaragod has currently 12 positivecases and Kollam 15. RRT UDVS VS