Covid-hit Kerala police HQ shut for two days

The Kerala police headquarters here was shut down for two days after three staff members tested positive for Covid19 even as the state recorded 1,129 new cases on Saturday.

The police headquarter premises will be sanitized thoroughly before resumption of work on Monday. State Police Chief, Lok Nath Behera, has also issued an order exempting police officials above 50 years from Covid prevention/control duties and other field duties, especially in crowded areas.

Those with lifestyle diseases like diabetes, hypertension and chronic ailments will also be exempted from field duties. The decision comes in the wake of the death of a Sub inspector of police on Saturday and the significant increase in numbers of police personnel contracting the infection while on duty.

Several police personnel attached to the armed reserve camps and police stations were detected with Covid-19 recently.

The DGP has directed the district SPs and heads of all wings to strictly enforce Covid-19 safety protocol in their respective departments and adhere to social distancing norms.

Kerala has 10,862 active cases. Meanwhile, 752 persons recovered from the disease.

The active cases in the state have gone up to 10,862 and a total of 13,779 people have recovered from the infection so far. The highest number of cases were reported from Thiruvananthapuram at 259 followed by Kasarogd 153 and Malappuram 141.

Of the new cases, 880 contracted the infection through contact, 80 came from abroad, 114 from other states and the source of infection of 58 persons is not yet known.

As many as 24 health workers also contracted the disease.