Fines for not wearing masks can reach $2.5 million
The Undersecretary of Public Health, Paula Daza, referred this morning to the publication of the decree in the official newspaper, which requires people to wear a mask in closed places with more than 10 people, in all public places, elevators and paid transport.
"We call for personal responsibility (...) It is important that those people who do not have a mask and cannot buy it, can manufacture it (...) It is also important how to handle the mask. And the use of other elements of personal care such as hand washing, the use of alcohol gel, social distancing," said Danza.
In the same sense, she assured that the mask decreases the probability, but does not prevent the transmission of the virus.
Regarding the fines that will be applied to people who are caught failing to comply with this decree, Daza assured that they can exceed two million pesos. "The sanctions in case a person does not wear the mask in these types of places, they risk a penalty of 2.5 million pesos. We hope not to have to apply this fine," she asserted.
Due to the above, she indicated that the health authority will be in charge of supervising compliance with this regulation and, in addition, has the power to fine people.
How to make a mask
The Ministry of Health (Minsal) released on social networks a simple instruction to make your own mask at home, as one of the measures to prevent infections validated by the government portfolio.
The chart consists of five steps, and only requires items like a bandana or scarf and two elastics.
Later, instructions were given on how they can be made with a shirt or a scarf:
It should be remembered that the Minister of Health, Jaime Mañalich, indicated that both the United States Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization recommended its use "despite the fact that the evidence of protection is not too great."
Mañalich advised using this measure "by all citizens when they are in places where there is a concentration of people: in a queue, in a supermarket, in a social gathering, I always understand that they have to be less than 50 people" and that it is "absolutely prudent" wearing a surgical-type mask.
The Secretary of State also asserted that it is prudent "to use a mask made by each one" according to the video provided by the Ministry of Health.