Mangaluru: Doctor Refuses To Wear Mask Inside Grocery Store, Booked Under Epidemic Diseases Act

Police in Karnataka have filed a case against a doctor who refused to wear a face mask while shopping at a grocery store. The doctor called it a "foolish rule" & then argued with the store manager when asked to do so. The case was filed under the Epidemic Diseases Act after a written complaint from the manager, who said the doctor's actions had put himself, his employees & other customers at risk. The manager also wrote the doctor "claimed to have treated his patients the same way (without a mask).” Dr Srinivas Kakkilaya was at the billing counter of a grocery store in a mall in Mangaluru when he was asked to put on a face mask, a requirement by law when in a public space. A video from the store's security camera shows the doctor - wearing a blue shirt and jeans - dismiss a plea from another customer who was wearing a mask. The government has long since ordered that people must wear face masks when leaving home, in addition to maintaining social distance and regularly washing one's hands. Masks are also required for people who may have recovered from the infection. On May 19 morning, Karnataka reported over 30,000 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours. The active caseload in the state is over 5.75 lakh, the most in the country.