Bengaluru, May 31 (IANS): The Karnataka government has banned spitting of chewed tobacco and 'paan masala' in public places across the state, in an effort to avert the spread of COVID-19, an official said on Saturday.

"As per the powers conferred by the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Ordinance 2020 Section 4(2) the state has banned the use of chewing tobacco products and consumption of paan masala products and spitting them in public places, so as to prevent the spread of corona and other communicable diseases," said an official in an order.

Violators will be booked under IPC Sections 188, 268, 269 and 270 and others.

The Karnataka government has already banned the sale of a single cigarette.

The central government had asked all the states and union territories in April to initiate steps to curb public use of tobacco to tackle spread of coronavirus.

The World Health Organisation and the Indian Council of Medical Research have already advised against public spitting in view of the pandemic.