Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, May 30: The commissioner in the health and family welfare services department had earlier drawn the attention of the government to the fact that chewing and spitting of tobacco, tobacco products and Pan Masala products in public places increases the risk of spreading COVID - 19 and other communicable diseases to others, particularly under the current circumstances in which coronavirus infection is spreading fast. States like Bihar and Jharkhand have already banned tobacco and Pan Masala products under Epidemics /diseases Act 1897.

As coronavirus cases in the state are on the rise, and as per the recommendations of World Health Organization and Indian Council of Medical Research opinion, there is risk of proliferation of COVID - 19 infection because the spitting habit. In order to stop spread of infection due to spitting in public places, the agencies have requested to ban chewing of tobacco products and Pan Masala products and spitting the same in the public.

In order to stop spreading of coronavirus infection and in view of points mentioned above, chewing of tobacco and tobacco products and Pan Masala products in public places has been banned. Those violating the order will be subjected to action in terms of sections 188, 268, 269 and 270 of Indian Penal Code. The authorities concerned have to initiate legal steps in such a case, the government said.