The central government brought in an ordinance under which any person who attacks a health worker who is treating Covid-19 cases can be jailed for a maximum of seven years. The ordinance was brought in to amend the century old Epidemic Act. Addressing a press conference, Union minister Prakash Javdekar said the ordinance has been brought in to "save health workers and other corona warriors". Under the new law, attack on health workers is a cognisable and non-bailable offence. For timely action, the ordinance stipulates a period of 30 days under which investigation on attack against health workers must be completed. It says the verdict in such cases should be delivered within one year.
