: The territorial administrationis getting masks ready through self-help groups to meet the current demand for the protective cover in the context of measures to contain the spread of dreaded novel COVID-19.Announcing this to reporters here on Thursday, the Puducherry Collector T Arun said around 10,000 masks would be got ready daily by the groups and soon one lakh masks would be available.Nearly five groups had been drafted for the purpose.He said the masks would be first distributed to the police personnel, health staff, workers of the ASHA unit and staff of the anganwadi centres.Arun said the DRDA and the National Livelihood Mission would be coordinating the preparation of the masks.The Puducherry Government Engineering College and the Department of Excise would also get ready hand sanitisers.The college had held a meeting earlier with the officers of the Hindu Religious Institutions and Wakf Board and had directed all the temples, churches and also mosques in the Union Territory to make available hand washing facilities or sanitisers at their respective places of worship.Hotel managements had also been asked to collect details from those staying in hotels or guest houses through self- declaration forms and the particulars would relate to the places of origin of the tourists, including foreigners, coming to Puducherry.There would be sustained campaign by distribution of handbills covering the various dos and don'ts and also to generate social distancing the people should adhere to as part of the present measures to keep the spread of coronavirus at bay.
