Amidst a spike in police personnel testing positive for COVID-19, the City Police is planning to run stations with minimum strength and change the duty rota every week to ensure that at least 20 per cent of its force is rested and self-quarantined at home for seven days at a stretch.
City police will introduce robots to monitor and interact with people in containment zones.
Chennai:
This is to make sure that the entire strength of a station is not affected in case of a corona attack. With police force being the first line of defence everywhere when it comes to fighting the pandemic, the top brass decided on forced quarantine for a group of police personnel on a rotation basis.
“Yes, we are planning to do with one group of police personnel for a week keeping the others on self-imposed home quarantine,” said a senior police official from Chennai where more number of police personnel, like the other members of mainstream society, are affected by the virus.
“The idea is to keep at least 20 per cent of the total strength at their homes for one week. As they come back, another set will go home. They will be available on call to attend if there is any kind of emergency,” the official added.
This system will in place at all the police stations in the city. The number will change according to the conditions and needs of each police stations. Some police stations, where there are more number of micro containment zones, the number of police personnel on self-imposed quarantine will be less. “We are planning to put the new system in place by Friday,” the officer added.
As on Thursday morning, four police personnel from Chennai has been tested positive besides a Home Guard person. All stations are sprayed with disinfectants twice daily to make sure that proper sanitisation is done, the official noted.
Two more SIs, AR constable test positive for COVID-19
The number of police personnel contracting COVID-19 is on the rise in the city with two more sub-inspectors getting admitted to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital and Kilpauk Medical College Hospital on Thursday. One of them, a 55-year-old, was a special mobile incharge at Mangadu police station and had been posted at Kolapakkam check post. He is suspected to have contracted the disease while indulging in vehicle checks. On Tuesday, he was sent to the police hospital in Egmore for tests and was home quarantined at police quarters in Maduravoyal.
After the results turned positive on Thursday, he was rushed to RGGGH, while his wife and two sons were home quarantined. About 21 others living in the building were also subjected to the tests.
Similarly, a 54-year-old Sub-Inspector of Koyambedu police station was taken to Kilpauk Medical College Hospital after the preliminary tests showed he could be COVID positive. His confirmative results are yet to arrive, said a police official. The SI is said to have been station incharge and does not need to step out often. So, it would be difficult to trace his contacts if tested positive.
Similarly, an Armed Reserve constable who was on bundobust duty at Pudupet has been admitted at Omandurar Government Hospital after his samples tested positive.
Three firefighters too have been admitted to hospitals with COVID symptoms. They were involved in disinfecting work in Vyasarpadi, Washermenpet and Basin Bridge.