Frontline warriors at risk: 59 cops tested positive to date

Ludhiana: As many as 59 cops of Ludhiana commissionerate have tested positive for coronavirus to date, which makes it 1.4% of the total force tested so far. Reports of 118 cops are pending. On the other hand, the civil rate of contracting coronavirus is 3.4%.
Assistant commissioner of police Anil Kohli was the first cop from the commissionerate to test positive on April 13. He had succumbed to the virus on April 18. Deputy commissioner of police (law and order) Ashwani Kapur had also tested positive, but he defeated the virus and joined duty on July 13.
Deputy commissioner of police (headquarters) Akhil Chaudhary said, “Among all cops who have contracted coronavirus, maximum are non-gazetted officers, including sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors. Out of total 1,787 non-gazetted officers, 25 have contracted the virus, and 21 cops of the rank of constables and head constables, out of total 2,127 tested, have also been infected. Besides, five Punjab home guards, three private employees, two gazetted officers, including an ACP and a DCP, two inspectors and one Class IV employee have also tested positive.”
“It is only 1.4% of the total cops tested so far. Moreover, out of total 59 positive cases, 30 cops have already been cured. Out of 29 positive cops, only five are admitted to hospitals and others are home isolated as they are asymptomatic,” added Chaudhary.
As per the data provided by the department of health and family welfare, Punjab, under the integrated disease surveillance programme, till July 17, as many as 48,219 samples were collected in Ludhiana district, of which reports of 46,953 have been received. Out of these reports, 1,626 have tested positive, including 296 from other districts and states.
Commissioner of police Rakesh Agarwal said, “Cops are in the frontline. Besides performing Covid duty, they have to follow the daily routine work like visiting crime spots or arresting criminals. Despite taking precautionary measures, some have contracted the virus. We stay in touch with all cops who are positive so that they remain motivated and optimistic. The good thing is that cops are recovering.”
Free kits for cops in home isolation
Commissioner of police Rakesh Agarwal said positive cops who were asymptomatic were kept in home isolation and the Ludhiana Police was providing them essential kits of 12 commodities, including pulse oximeter, thermometer, steamer, yoga mat, masks, sanitiser, hot water electric kettle, medicines, among others. The kit includes every item a person needs in home isolation. They have also been directed to contact doctors in case the oxygen saturation is less than 95%, temperature more than 100 degree Celsius, breathlessness, heaviness in chest, blue lips or any other discomfort, he added.
Box-
CIVILIANS’ CASE FILE
Samples taken- 48,219
Reports received- 46,953
Positive cases- 1,626
Other districts’ positive cases- 296
Pending reports- 1,266
Box-
COPS’ CASE FILE
Samples taken- 4,384
Reports received- 4,266
Positive cases- 59
Pending reports- 118