Police have launched a campaign over loudhailers to spread awareness about Covid-19 with renewed intensity in pockets of the city.

The awareness drive is likely to intensify in the containment zones announced on Wednesday to make the residents aware of the dos and don’ts.

Officers of Gariahat and Phoolbagan police stations on Wednesday were seen using loudhailers to spread their message in markets, explaining to people the utility of wearing masks and the need to stay at home as far as possible.

A policeman makes announcements on a loudhailer, asking residents to stay indoors and follow lockdown rules, in Bhowanipore on Wednesday Pradip Sanyal

“Please do not loiter. Please go back home once you are done shopping. Do not forget to wear masks and do not step out of your home unless absolutely necessary” -- that was the refrain of officers’ announcements in Gariahat and Phoolbagan.

A senior officer at Lalbazar said the primary idea was to spread awareness among citizens on the use of masks and the importance of following physical distancing norms.

All 80 police stations in the city have been asked to safeguard markets by enforcing physical distancing and checking the body temperature of each and every shopper by a thermal scanner at the entrance.

The police in Calcutta as well as Bidhannagar, Howrah and Barrackpore have been using loudhailers during the lockdown to spread awareness on how to prevent Covid-19.

Information such as market timings, police helpline numbers and the benefit of wearing masks, using hand sanitiser and maintaining social distancing is usually disseminated through loudhailers.

“The system has been very effective. Whenever a building or an area is turned into a containment zone, we are making announcements through loudhailers,” said an officer of the Howrah commissionerate.

The Howrah police had also announced a helpline number through the public address system for the residents of the pockets that were under complete lockdown during the first phase.