In the city police alone, the number of positive cases has already is 129, with cops from the rank of constable to Additional Commissioner being tested positive till now. If another 21 from Fire and Rescue services are added to the list, the total number of COVID patients in khaki reaches 150 in Chennai city.

In the Fire and Rescue services alone, 27 people across the State were tested positive. Of the total, 21 are from Chennai, showing the vulnerability of uniformed persons working in tandem with health officials and corporation staff in fighting the epidemic.

On Wednesday alone seven police personnel from Chennai tested positive. “Of course police and sanitary workers are most exposed to the virus and they interact with people in containment areas on a continuous basis,” a senior police official said.

It could be also a part of community spreading, noted another officer pointing out that in many cases of police personnel testing positive, it is not clear from where they got the infection. In such cases, tracing back their contacts has also been a difficult task, noted the officer.