By TRN Online, Kathmandu, Aug. 18: More than eight lakhs of masks have been distributed to denizens by the Nepal Police through a mask campaign in the last four months.

A total of 856, 473 masks have been distributed free of cost to people.

Nepal Police started distributing masks to denizens from April 19, after the government started to emphasize the use of masks to curb the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19.

Although the campaign was not effective for some time following the second wave, the campaign is now in full swing form with the “Where is your mask campaign?”

“Nepal Police have distributed masks to 21,656 people today only and 40-50 thousand masks get distributed on daily basis,” said Basanta Bahadur Kunwar, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), and Nepal Police Central Spokesperson.

In view of the growing contagion of the COVID-19 with new variants, the Nepal Police has launched various awareness programmes including 'Save Yourself and Protect Others' from the infection, as per the Police Headquarters.

A total of 420 people have been fined Rs. 45,600 for violating the ban issued by the local administration for the prevention and control of COVID-19, police said.

In the process, 5,119 people have been alerted for violating health standards and 24,000 people have been trained under 166 awareness programmes including through the mike announcement, placards and pamphlets across the country.

It carries the slogan, “I will wear a mask and will motivate others to wear it too, and with the hashtag #, I am responsible Nepali".