ANANTNAG: A massive COVID-19 awareness campaign was today kick-started in the form of announcements at markets, here regarding enforcement of Covid Appropriate Behavior (CAB) and usage of masks besides ensuring social distancing.
A joint enforcement drive was conducted by ARTO Anantnag and Tehsildar Anantnag and fines were imposed on several shopkeepers and cabs for violating Covid-19 protocol.
Similar drives were also held in all towns of the district.
Meanwhile, Booster doses for senior citizens to enhance protection against Covid-19 were also started in Anantnag today.
The CMO Anantnag appealed to the eligible senior citizens to come forward and get their COVID jabs. He said that the district has already started vaccinating the eligible population in the 15-17 age group and is committed to achieve cent percent coverage within the next few days.
It is in place to mention that more than 35000 youth in the 15-17 age group have already received the vaccine.
A separate meeting was also held by Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Ghulam Hassan Sheikh with the representatives of Traders and Transport Associations.
ADC while addressing the meeting highlighted the need of complete synergy in combating the impending threat of the Omicron variant, which he said is highly transmissible. He said CAB enforcement is the only solution to combat the aggressive transmission of the omicron variant.
The ADC cautioned against lenient behavior of people in observing covid protocol, saying the district administration will act very tough against the violators even as he appealed all the stakeholders to extend co-operation to administration in the enforcement of CAB.
ADC observed that health is the priority of every individual and it was imperative to work in complete coordination to defeat the 3rd covid wave and protect the public health by all means.
He asked the traders and transporters to disallow unmasked people in their business establishments and public vehicles, adding the concerned trader and driver will be personally held responsible for such lapses.
He also asked shopkeepers to display posters in their shops reading, “No entry for unmasked customers”.