Cases surge in key govt offices

NEW DELHI: Police officers, firemen, staff deployed or working in crucial government offices in Delhi have now started getting affected by COVID-19.

Delhi Assembly

Meanwhile, the Secretary of Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel and three more staffers from the Assembly have tested positive for the Coronavirus infection. About 15 people were tested at the divisional commissioner’s office in Delhi, out of which eight people have been found positive.

Delhi Police and prisons

Sources said that a DCP rank officer in Delhi Police posted in Rashtrapati Bhavan also tested COVID-19 positive. So far Delhi Police staff who were deployed in security of ex-prime Minister, ex-chief Minister, former police commissioner tested positive. In Delhi Police, nearly 500 policemen are affected with the virus in which 200 have recovered and three deaths were reported. Earlier two DCP rank officers from districts also tested positive.

From Delhi Prisons, seven new cases (all jail staff) were reported from three complexes (Tihar, Mandoli and Rohini). According to data, since COVID-19 outbreak, 28 cases (16 inmates and 12 prison staff ) have been reported in which 14 (13 inmates and one staff ) have recovered.

Delhi Fire Services

A 44-year-old telephone operator posted at the Delhi Fire Services’ control room tested positive on Friday after which the office was sanitised, officials said. However, this is the first positive case of COVID-19 reported from the Delhi Fire Service control room. Several cases have been reported from DFS and their personnel have recovered and joined back, according to an official.

Union Health Ministry

Five employees of the Union Health Ministry, including a director and an undersecretary, have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last seven days, prompting the authorities to carry out a “major and comprehensive disinfection and sanitisation” of office premises from June 6-7. Besides two officers and a doctor, two employees who have contracted the disease are from the Centre for Health Informatics under the Health Ministry. They frequented the Nirman Bhawan building, sources said.

Rail Bhavan

The Rail Bhavan on Thursday reported two more coronavirus cases, taking the tally of those infected at the railway headquarters to 11, officials said. The Rail Bhavan has already been sealed twice last month. The recent case was that of an official working in the office of Chairman, Railway Board. The official last attended office on May 21 and was found COVID-19 positive on June 3.

DMRC

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) was also affected by the virus. As many as 20 staff members of DMRC, staying in Delhi-ncr, have tested positive for coronavirus COVID-19 till date. Many Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) officials have been coming to office or to station premises to ensure smooth resumption of services, whenever the orders come from the government.