Coronavirus: GHMC seals 66 firms disobeying closure orders

Hyderabad: The Directorate of Enforcement, Vigilance & Disaster Management of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has sealed 66 firms including institutions, gymnasiums, schools, Bars & Pubs for disobeying the orders issued by the State Government for the closure of all places of public gatherings as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of COVID- 19 virus.

It may be mentioned that the World Health Organization has declared COVID-19 as pandemic and instructed the state governments to take all such measures as may be necessary to contain the spread of the virus. The Government of Telangana had issued orders vide G.O.Rt. No. 4 dated 14-03-2020 to close the educational instructions till March 31 and parks, theatres, museums, gymnasiums, bars & pubs, cultural events, sports events, conferences, workshops etc., till March 21. The government has issued orders to ensure strict implementation of the above instructions without any deviations and take all necessary actions under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and Epidemic Disease Act, 1897 to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19 Virus.

In view of these orders, the GHMC has deployed 18 teams on the filed in GHMC limits to inspect and ensure that the government orders are followed to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19 virus. Further, it was brought to the notice that there being public congregation in the shopping malls, hypermarkets, commercial establishments, etc., there is need to take certain measure to contain the spread of the virus.

According to the GHMC, notices are being issued to all the Malls, hypermarkets, commercial establishments, etc, directing to screen the visitors using thermal screening devices and also sanitize the entire area where there will be movement of public as many times as required and also to provide hand gloves, masks, sanitizers, etc to the staff and hand sanitizers to visitors.