Coronavirus scare: Maharashtra pharmacist held for stealing masks

Amid novel coronavirus scare, a pharmacist from a reputed hospital in Maharashtra's Pune has been arrested for allegedly stealing masks and other medicines worth over Rs 35,000, police said on Sunday. The 28-year-old accused stole masks, injections, tablets and some ointments, collectively worth Rs 35,750, from the hospital pharmacy where he was working on Saturday, a Koregaon Park police station official said.

He has been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code for theft. While no confirmed case of novel coronavirus has been reported from Maharashtra so far, the scare over the infection is spreading.

To prevent hoarding of masks which are in great demand, the state Food and Drug department had earlier appealed chemists to not stockpile them. Authorities have been appealing to people to wear masks only if recommended by doctors, and have been insisting on maintaining personal hygiene to keep the viral infection at bay.

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