[ad_1]
President Andry Rajoelina has made the use of outdoor facial covers mandatory in the capital Antananarivo, as well as in the cities of Fianarantsoa and Toamasina, to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Brooms Image: Pixabay.
ANTANANARIVO – Madagascar police forced citizens trapped outside without a coronavirus face mask to sweep the sidewalks on Monday, police officials said.
President Andry Rajoelina has made the use of outdoor facial covers mandatory in the capital Antananarivo, as well as in the cities of Fianarantsoa and Toamasina, to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The new rule, which went into effect on Monday, was announced on April 20 along with the gradual lifting of blockade measures in the three main cities.
Authorities warned that citizens who leave the house without masks will face community service.
“Seventy percent of people on the street abided by the rule … because they fear having to sweep the pavements,” Gen. Elak Olivier Andriakaja, chief of coronavirus operations, said on state television.
“Measures were taken before the sanctions were applied to raise awareness and distribute the mouth caps,” Andriakaja added.
“I think that is enough and that sanctions should now be applied.”
About 500 people in Antananarivo and Fianarantsoa were penalized on Monday, deputy police director Christian Rakotobe said.
Antananarivo Commissioner Héctor Razafindrazaka said 25 people were immediately convicted and forced to sweep the dusty streets of the capital.
The images of the embarrassed looking criminals spread widely on social media.
To date, the island nation of the Indian Ocean has detected 128 cases of coronavirus. No deaths have been recorded so far and 75 patients have been recovered.
[ad_2]
