<p>With Bengaluru reporting nearly 220 new Covid cases on average, the BBMP said on Monday that it would step up the awareness campaign on mask-wearing. </p>.<p>Dr Harish Kumar, Special Commissioner (Solid Waste Management), said marshals had been directed to enforce Covid-appropriate behaviour such as mask-wearing and social distancing, though violators won't be penalised. </p>.<p>As per the existing Covid guidelines, wearing a facial mask is mandatory in all public places but there are no fines. With the city seeing a steady rise in Covid cases, authorities plan to rigorously enforce the mask mandate. </p>.<p>The BBMP has asked its zonal officials to verify and report cases of SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Illness) and ILI (Influence-Like Illness). The civic body is also asking private hospitals to test all outpatients who come with SARI and ILI symptoms for Covid-19. </p>.<p>Increasing overall Covid tests is another priority for the BBMP. It will increase the number of daily tests to 20,000, up from the existing 16,000, Dr Kumar added. </p>.<p>Currently, 40 marshals are carrying out mask awareness campaigns in KR Market, Kalasipalya, Madivala, Yeshwantpur and Russel Market.</p>.<p>Karnataka reported 230 fresh cases of Covid-19 on Monday, with Bengaluru accounting for 222. </p>
<p>With Bengaluru reporting nearly 220 new Covid cases on average, the BBMP said on Monday that it would step up the awareness campaign on mask-wearing. </p>.<p>Dr Harish Kumar, Special Commissioner (Solid Waste Management), said marshals had been directed to enforce Covid-appropriate behaviour such as mask-wearing and social distancing, though violators won't be penalised. </p>.<p>As per the existing Covid guidelines, wearing a facial mask is mandatory in all public places but there are no fines. With the city seeing a steady rise in Covid cases, authorities plan to rigorously enforce the mask mandate. </p>.<p>The BBMP has asked its zonal officials to verify and report cases of SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Illness) and ILI (Influence-Like Illness). The civic body is also asking private hospitals to test all outpatients who come with SARI and ILI symptoms for Covid-19. </p>.<p>Increasing overall Covid tests is another priority for the BBMP. It will increase the number of daily tests to 20,000, up from the existing 16,000, Dr Kumar added. </p>.<p>Currently, 40 marshals are carrying out mask awareness campaigns in KR Market, Kalasipalya, Madivala, Yeshwantpur and Russel Market.</p>.<p>Karnataka reported 230 fresh cases of Covid-19 on Monday, with Bengaluru accounting for 222. </p>