AT least 52 people countrywide were arrested yesterday and
fined between $200 and $500 each for not wearing face masks in public.
Government recently gazetted a law compelling all people to
wear face masks in public. In terms of new health regulations gazetted on
Saturday, those who fail to wear masks face punitive action or imprisonment of
up to one year.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul
Nyathi confirmed the arrests saying the offenders were all fined at various
police stations across the country.
“Police arrested 52 people across the country yesterday for
not wearing face masks in public. Wearing of masks in public is now a legal
requirement and we have been urging members of the public to be compliant with
the new health regulations.
“Unfortunately, there are some people who are disregarding
this and not taking our messages seriously. We continue to urge the nation to
always adhere to the set Covid-19 regulations.
“We also remind the nation that the police are there to
enforce the law and those caught on the wrong side of the law will be
arrested,” he said.
Meanwhile, the number of people arrested for various
offences since the beginning of the Covid-19 lockdown in the country has risen
to 22 174.
Asst Comm Nyathi said the majority of offenders were caught
travelling without exemption letters while claiming to be offering essential
services.
He appealed to employers to give employees necessary
documentation to enable them to pass through security checkpoints.
“We continue to appeal to companies exempted to operate
during the extended lockdown to give their employees requisite documentation
confirming they are allowed to work during the lockdown.
“This will help them to be easily identified at checkpoints
or when asked for such by officers who would be on patrol. We will not allow
anyone to pass through a checkpoint without exemption letters and masks,” he
said. Herald
0 comments:
Post a Comment