The Delhi government has intensified enforcement against violations of Covid-appropriate behaviour amid the city’s fifth wave of infections with 466 teams on the ground. Each team comprises an executive magistrate and four civil defence volunteers and divided between stationary and mobile units.

On Saturday, the 466 teams imposed fines worth over ₹1.02 crore, after issuing 5,210 challans for violations of Covid-appropriate behaviour across 11 districts, mostly from East district ( ₹14.4 lakh), South-East district ( ₹13.4 lakh), North ( ₹12.9 lakh), and Central district ( ₹12.3 lakh).

In mid-December last year, only around 150 enforcement teams were deployed across the city before the Omicron-fuelled surge hit Delhi. As, of December 15, 396 such enforcement teams were already acting in the city, but it was increased to 425 by January 1 and to further increased to 466 by January 14 when cases were increasing rapidly.

A revenue department official said that the district magistrates were empowered to designate any official, including teachers, as an executive magistrate. Mobile teams moved across the district, especially where crowding was more like inter-state bus terminals, markets and railway stations, while the stationary teams were deployed in crowd-prone locations like some of the city’s popular markets.

The enforcement officials on the ground said people are often less than cooperative and faced several difficulties in enforcing the norms, and were rebuffed when they tried to fine people. Many a time people refused to pay cash on the spot stating they did not have, sometimes they became aggressive and even some refused to provide identification proof.

But, experts said that Covid-appropriate behaviour should be continued even when the case curve flattens.

Dr Jugal Kishore, head of the department of community medicine at Safdarjung hospital said that the number of cases reported was less in the last three days, the peak of the curve has already been hit and further restrictions may not be beneficial. The government should relax the restrictions after watching the trend for a few more days. Authorities should continue to ensure and encourage the people to continue following appropriate behaviour like wearing masks in public places and maintaining social distancing.

On Sunday Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain, said that the state’s enforcement norms have proved to be beneficial and people should continue to follow all Covid protocols and take necessary precautions like wearing masks for safety and to maintain social distance when entering public places.

Source: Hindustan Times