BENGALURU: An increasing number of frontline workers and their family members are being quarantined or testing positive. A total of 1,704 relatives of police personnel across the state — contacts of 1,986 infected personnel — have been quarantined so far as per the latest police records.
Eighty-six of these contacts have also tested positive. The good news is that 862 of the 1,704 have been discharged and gone back to their families. The number of Covid-positive cops crossed 2,000 on Saturday.
Udupi district had the highest number of police kin in quarantine (350), while Dharwad had the lowest (4). No family members of infected personnel were shifted to quarantine facilities in 13 of the 36 police districts due to various reasons.
Owing to the rising cases in the force, several police personnel are staying in hotels and sharing accommodations with colleagues, not wanting to put their families at risk. An assistant commissioner of police from the west division in Bengaluru said he has sent his aged parents to his hometown Tumakuru, while staying in a hotel room near Vijayanagar. “I don’t want to put my wife or schoolgoing daughter at risk. Everyday, I speak with them over the phone. I have not met them for the past 35 days,” he said.
A constable in the south division said he’s living with a batchmate and has sent his pregnant wife to her parents’ house in North Karnataka. “We have been working continuously since March and may get infected any time. Thousands of constables across the state are staying away from their families,” he said.
Women police officials said they too fear mingling with family members, minor children in particular. “Many of us have small children. When we return home, they come near us. Unlike our male colleagues, we can’t distance ourselves from our families and live separately. Though we are working women, we have responsibilities at home as well,” said a woman assistant sub-inspector working in the east division.
Over all, 5,300 police personnel in the state have been quarantined till date.
Eighty-six of these contacts have also tested positive. The good news is that 862 of the 1,704 have been discharged and gone back to their families. The number of Covid-positive cops crossed 2,000 on Saturday.
Udupi district had the highest number of police kin in quarantine (350), while Dharwad had the lowest (4). No family members of infected personnel were shifted to quarantine facilities in 13 of the 36 police districts due to various reasons.
Owing to the rising cases in the force, several police personnel are staying in hotels and sharing accommodations with colleagues, not wanting to put their families at risk. An assistant commissioner of police from the west division in Bengaluru said he has sent his aged parents to his hometown Tumakuru, while staying in a hotel room near Vijayanagar. “I don’t want to put my wife or schoolgoing daughter at risk. Everyday, I speak with them over the phone. I have not met them for the past 35 days,” he said.
A constable in the south division said he’s living with a batchmate and has sent his pregnant wife to her parents’ house in North Karnataka. “We have been working continuously since March and may get infected any time. Thousands of constables across the state are staying away from their families,” he said.
Women police officials said they too fear mingling with family members, minor children in particular. “Many of us have small children. When we return home, they come near us. Unlike our male colleagues, we can’t distance ourselves from our families and live separately. Though we are working women, we have responsibilities at home as well,” said a woman assistant sub-inspector working in the east division.
Over all, 5,300 police personnel in the state have been quarantined till date.
Coronavirus outbreak
Trending Topics
LATEST VIDEOS
More from TOI
Navbharat Times
Featured Today in Travel
Get the app