The government has made it mandatory for people to wear face masks in some public places and while availing public transport services. However, the Health Minister said imposing fines on violators is not feasible, during a press briefing yesterday.
To prevent and contain the local transmission of COVID -19 in high-risk areas, the Health Ministry mandates the compulsory wearing of face masks in hospitals, schools, vegetable markets and public transport.
Lyonpo said considering the large number of people visiting public places, individuals won’t be allowed to enter hospitals and vegetable markets without face masks.
“It is mandatory for everyone to use face masks in hospitals, schools, vegetable market and in all public transport services. The Prime Minister’s Office has also provided similar directives with regard to the use of face masks. In terms of monitoring, in hospitals, we are not allowing anyone to enter the facility without face masks. Similarly, in the vegetable market area, Desuups and police are continuously monitoring the public. However, it is very difficult to monitor every single person visiting market places,” said Dechen Wangmo, the Health Minister.
Lyonpo said imposing fines and penalties for not wearing face masks in such places cannot be possible and will not be feasible as well, “in hospitals, we will not allow people to enter unless they wear a face mask. And in terms of imposing fines, I think we won’t be able to impose fine for not using mouth covers at the public places. It will be impossible and unworkable to penalise everyone.”
Despite this, the Health Minister assured Desuups and Police are constantly monitoring and asking the general public to wear face masks while visiting public places.
Kinga, the Desuung Coordinator at the Centenary Farmers’ Market in Thimphu, shares how people react to the mandatory regulations of using face masks. “We get mixed responses from the public while asking them to wear face masks in the vegetable market area. For those who have mouth covers with them and when we ask them to wear it they acknowledge our appeal and wear the masks accordingly. But there are few other people who do not wear face masks and when we ask them, they get angry with us. However, the overall response from the public with regard to wearing face masks in this area has been good so far,” he said.
Moreover, in view of the worsening scenario in the neighbouring towns of India, wearing of face masks in the southern part of the country was already made mandatory from before, and monitoring processes are stricter in the region as well.
Besides, the Health Ministry also plans to procure and distribute face masks in various places where the supply is not in abundance.
Passang Dorji
