Chandigarh: The Punjab government on Thursday increased the fine for coronavirus patients violating home isolation rules from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000. At present, 951 patients are in home isolation across the state.
Social gatherings with more than the permitted strength will lead to a penalty amounting to Rs 10,000, according to new guidelines announced by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh at a video conference meeting to review the COVID-19 situation in the state.
The state government has also announced a fine of Rs 5,000 for owners of restaurants and eating joints violating social distancing norms. The government had in May announced a fine of Rs 2,000 for coronavirus patients violating home isolation norms.
Under the existing guidelines, shops and commercial places are liable to pay Rs 2,000 for violation of social distancing norms, while for buses and cars such violations are punishable by Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,000 fine respectively, and in the case of auto-rickshaws and two-wheelers, the fine stands at Rs 500.
There is also a fine of Rs 500 each for not wearing a mask and spitting at public places. At the meeting, the chief minister directed officials to take stern steps to ensure people wear face masks at public places.
Singh reiterated his earlier appeal to the farmers' outfits not to come out on the roads to protest against the central government's "anti-farmers" ordinances in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
READ:|Punjab: Farmers hold protest against Agri ordinances, fuel prices
In another initiative, the chief minister has directed that mask vending machines be installed at vantage points such as bus stands.