AFTER COP DIES OF COVID, POLICE ISSUE GUIDELINES TO STEM SPREAD

NEW DELHI: Concerned over the rise in Covid-19 disease cases in the force, the Delhi Police have issued standard operating procedure (SOP) to monitor their personnel’s health on a daily basis.

According to the SOP, any staff member feeling unwell, suffering from cough, sore throat, fever, breathlessness or any other symptoms “must immediately report” the same to the duty officer (DO) of the police station or unit where they are posted “by any means of communication”.

The DOS have been appointed as “daily health monitoring” officers. They have been tasked with updating the health status of personnel who say they are unwell. The updates should immediately be brought to the notice of the station house officer (SHO) of the police stations or heads of the units concerned, the SOP adds.

According to an officer with direct knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be named, as many as 118 Delhi Police officials had tested positive for Covid-19 till Friday. At least 15 Delhi police personnel have recovered and resumed duty, the officer cited above added. The virus has already claimed the life of a 31-year-old constable posted at the Bharat Nagar police station.

From managing containment zones, guarding quarantine centres, feeding the homeless and the migrant workers to ensuring citizens maintain social distancing, the city police are on the frontlines in the fight against Covid-19.

The SOP, police commissioner SN Shrivastava said, lays down guidelines that SHOS or heads of units have to follow when they are informed about personnel suspected to have the infection.

“The unit head will immediately take the police person to a doctor and get their opinion as to whether they require a Covid-19 test, hospitalisation, or can be sent into home-quarantine or isolation, depending on their symptoms,” Shrivastava said.