During the first visit for inspection by The nuisance detection squads (NDS) of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), a warning is issued and during the second, action would be taken as the inspection began on Tuesday to see if the owners and staff in the malls and shops are working 14 days after the second dose.
Ram Joshi, NMC’s additional municipal commissioner, told TOI that the NDS is starting with mall inspections. “Most of the staff at VR Mall, Empress Mall, Big Bazaar at t Sitabuldi, Poonam Mall, Central Mall, Ginger Mall, Fortune Mall, and Vishal Mega Mart had not taken the second dose. They were warned”, he said. “Few shops were also inspected. Restaurants, offices, etc will be covered in a phased manner”, he further added.
The NMC also called in a meeting with the mall representatives on Tuesday. “They said most staff have taken the first dose and are awaiting due date after the rule change. I suggested that those who have not taken even a single shot should get Covaxin or Sputnik V as the gap between two doses is less,” he said.
Joshi also stated that all malls have been instructed not to permit anyone who has not completed 14 days since their second dose. “we will have to implement whatever directives come from the govt”.
The govt has given a green signal to almost all commercial activities and changed the timings to 10 p.m. from August 15 with the caveat that those who have been vaccinated must have completed 14 days since their 2nd dose.
Despite the new rules, there is no increase in the number of people who benefit. On Tuesday, 15,941 people in the city received the vaccine. There are 5,313 NMC centres and 628 private centres. Except for a few days, the inoculation rate was around 20,000-30,000 per day between June 23 (when vaccination resumed for the 18-44 age group) and August 14th. The NMC anticipated an increase in the number.
On Tuesday, the civic chief issued an order allowing people under the age of 18 to enter malls with proof of age.
