13 Aug 2020

Seventy-six people in Tonota have been charged for not wearing facemasks in public places.

Tonota Station Commander, Superintendent Oteng Ngada said in an interview that they were charged between July 31 and August 9.

He said police operation in Tonota to enforce compliance had revealed that some people did not wear masks; something, which he said could expose them to COVID-19.

“Face masks help prevent the transmission of coronavirus,” Superintendent Ngada explained.

He pointed out that they were concerned about people who loiter on the streets without wearing facemasks.

The perpetrators, according to the police, claimed wearing of facemasks suffocated them.

Furthermore, Superintendent Ngada said the police had also arrested 20 people for drinking alcohol in non-designated areas within the same period.

Five people, he said, were also nabbed for selling traditional beer illegally whilst four others were arrested for selling beer in their homesteads.

Also, he said 21 taxi drivers were arrested for failure to maintain passenger register whilst 23 were arrested for failure to maintain social distancing.

Superintendent Ngada explained that all the offenders were fined P1 000 and above.

He said the operation would continue until such time when there would be total compliance to COVID-19 protocols within Tonota policing area. Ends