Vaccination stalls spread of virus among cops this yr

Surat: Altogether 711 personnel from city’s more than 5,600-strong police force had been infected with coronavirus since the pandemic began. Of these, eight have died, four in 2020 and the other half this year. The four victims of this year had not been vaccinated, said a senior police official.
In 2020, nearly 500 cops got infected, while the remaining 211 turned Covid-19 positive during 2021. According to officials, the rate of infection in the second wave has remained low among the ranks is because of vaccination.
“Surat city police is at the top of vaccination list in the state with 95 percent of its staff getting the first dose of vaccine, while 86 percent got the second dose as well. Due to vaccination the cases are less in police even when they come in direct contact with many people daily,” city police commissioner Ajay Tomar told TOI.
Of the 5,609 personnel in city police 5,320 have got their first dose of vaccine. Those who are yet to get the jab include those who have been advised by doctors.
Currently 163 cops are Covid-19 positive, of whom one has been shifted to hospital for treatment while others are in home isolation. “Due to vaccination, those who are infected have minor illness and are recovering well. I talked to cop Jaswantsinh Bariya who is in the hospital on Thursday and he is now out of oxygen support. He will be discharged soon,” said Tomar.