Now malls also closed in Maharashtra due to increase in Coronavirus cases

Mumbai, March 14, 2020: Health Minister Rajesh Tope today announced that in order to contain the spread of Coronavirus, the government has decided to close all malls in cities and towns ie urban areas.

The government has already issued orders to close down all schools, colleges (barring 10th and 12th examinations), coaching centres in the urban areas, as the number of Corona virus positive patients increased to 26 today.

Considering the safety of the health of the people of Maharashtra, the Epidemic Diseases Act was invoked yesterday to tackle the epidemic diseases in the state. The gymnasium, theatres, cinema halls and swimming pools in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Pimpri- Chinchwad, Thane and Nagpur will be closed till the month end.

Know about Epidemic Diseases Act 1897

Section 2 : Power to take special measures and prescribe regulations as to dangerous epidemic disease.—(1) When at any time the State Government is satisfied that the State or any part thereof is visited by, or threatened with, an outbreak of any dangerous epidemic disease, the State Government, if it thinks that the ordinary provisions of the law for the time being in force are insufficient for the purpose, may take, or require or empower any person to take, such measures and, by public notice, prescribe such temporary regulations to be observed by the public or by any person or class of persons as it shall deem necessary to prevent the outbreak of such disease or the spread thereof, and may determine in what manner and by whom any expenses incurred(including compensation if any) shall be defrayed.

In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions, the State Government may take measures and prescribe regulations for – the inspection of persons travelling by railway or otherwise, and the segregation, in hospital, temporary accommodation or otherwise, of persons suspected by the inspecting officer of being infected with any such disease.

3. Penalty.—Any person disobeying any regulation or order made under this Act shall be deemed to have committed an offence punishable under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 188 which is punishable with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month or with fine.

4. Protection to persons acting under Act.—No suit or other legal proceeding shall lie against any person for anything done or in good faith intended to be done under this Act.

Now the order issued by state government authorities in Pune stated that teachers, students and other staffs of educational institutions, will face police action if they are found roaming around. Similar orders are being issued by other departments also.

The Act necessary for curbing the epidemics and effectively implementing the measures is being enforced in the state. Gymnasiums, cinema halls ,theaters, swimming pools will remain closed but essential services like Railway and buses will be as usual.