Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday has decided to come up with an ordinance that will ensure strict action against those attacking frontline coronavirus warriors.
The ordinance — Uttar Pradesh Epidemic Disease Control Ordinance, 2020 — will have provisions for stringent punishment including a jail term and heavy fine. The amended norms will also have provisions to punish those fleeing from quarantine centres,or spitting to spread the infection, thus risking the lives of others.
“Besides health care teams and sanitation workers, government employees, and representatives of various organisations are fighting against Covid-19. However, some people are working as corona carriers and attacking the medical teams and security personnel. This is a serious crime and cannot be tolerated. We’ve decided to make major amendments to the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897. The Union government has recently amended the Act to protect health care teams from any attack or misbehaviour with jail term and penalty. We’re also making a provision for up to seven years’ imprisonment and up to Rs 5 lakh penalty for any attack on security personnel, sanitation workers and corona warriors,” reported HT as UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath saying.
The CM gave his nod on Wednesday after holding discussions with his ministers and senior officers.
