Union Minister Harsh Vardhan seeks strict action against people charging inflated prices for face masks

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has sought strict action against those charging inflated prices for face masks. His comments come amid reports that chemists are charging higher than the normal price for masks as the coronavirus scare rises. 

Dr Harsh Vardhan held a meeting yesterday to review preparedness for managing coronavirus outbreak and stressed on the importance of states keeping quarantine facilities, isolation wards and testing labs in active readiness.

So far, India has 31 confirmed cases of the infection while nearly 29,000 people



have been put under surveillance.

Dr Harsh Vardhan held the meeting with health ministers and chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories, Central ministers and representatives from organisations concerned through video conferencing and underlined the importance of communicating with the masses and raising awareness about steps to prevent spread of the virus.

 He asked the states to mount information education and communication campaign to deal with misconceptions about the ailment.