Bengaluru: Weddings in Bengaluru will now be closely monitored by marshals to ensure compliance of Covid-19 guidelines, Health and Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar has announced.
The government has sought the help of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) marshals to ensure safety regulations in wedding halls. These marshals have already been working closely with the Bengaluru police to penalise those not wearing masks in open areas.
In a statement Monday, Sudhakar said: “Face masks will be compulsory to allow them to attend weddings and not more than 500 persons will be allowed as part of the function. It is essential that we are careful and we should not let our guard down in order to prevent another lockdown.”
During a video conference Monday, the minister also instructed the heads of all districts to ensure strict implementation of guidelines so there is no further spike in cases due to huge gatherings.
On 16 February, at least 105 residents of an apartment complex in Bengaluru were found to be Covid positive after they attended a party hosted on the premises.
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Instructions for weddings
In the statement, the health minister issued a directive that persons involved in wedding arrangements — catering, housekeeping, decorators, etc. — should be tested before their services are availed.
Sudhakar noted a personal experience, saying he was asked to remove his mask at a function. The fact that people are not following guidelines has made it necessary to have marshals at the venue, he said.
“There are several meetings and gatherings that are taking place in violation of Covid guidelines. We may have to force strict guidelines if cases increase. We cannot have a situation like Maharashtra’s where another lockdown has been imposed in certain areas,” the minister added.
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