By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, May 22: At least 15 security personnel have tested coronavirus positive as of Thursday morning report of the Ministry of Health and Populations.
Security personnel deployed on the front line unit during the nationwide lockdown are more vulnerable to be infected with the virus as they have to come into communication and touch at any time and condition while on duty. The coronavirus infected people’s tally has already jumped to 453 by this morning, of which 13 are security personnel.
Of them, six belong to Nepal Police. On Wednesday, a police sub-inspector and a policeman stationed at Metropolitan Police Circle, Kalimati, tested positive for the coronavirus. Also, another Sub-inspector in Kapilvastu and a constable, one each police constable in Bara and Dhankuta were also found positive for the coronavirus.
Two policemen of Kalimati are undergoing treatment at Balambu-based APF dedicated coronavirus treatment hospital, while the rest are being treated at their respective district-based hospitals, according to Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and spokesperson of Nepal Police Headquarters, Niraj Bahadur Shahi.
Four other security members of the Armed Police Force (APF) also tested positive for the virus, DIG and spokesperson at the APF Headquarters Prabin Kumar Shrestha, said. Of them, one is a security aide of former Home Minister Bhim Rawal, Sub-inspector of Kapilvastu, and one APF constable each in Sunsari and Balambu hospital.
Similarly, a senior army officer and a solider of the Nepali Army were infected with the virus. They were working at Mid-eastern Division Headquarters in Mahottari district. The solider who was found positive for the virus was engaged in swab collection task. Both of them are admitted to the APF Hospital, Balambu.
Also, a Sub-inspector of National Investigation Department (NID) deputed in Kapilvastu, was confirmed positive for the virus.
“Since the two staff members of ours were found positive for the virus, swab tests of all, who have come to the office, were done on Wednesday by sealing the office yesterday,” DSP and in-charge of Kalimati Metropolitan Police Circle, Rugam Kunwar said.
DSP Kunwar said that on Tuesday night, he along with other staff had eaten their meal in a joint mess. DSP Kunwar said, following the incident Kalimati Police Circle, Women Cell, Metropolitan Traffic Sector, Kalimati, were sealed. It would be difficult to deploy extra police personnel when one or two policemen test positive for coronavirus in one particular police office, DIG and Metropolitan Police Chief Bishwaraj Pokhrel said.
“Nearly two hundred staff members under the Kalimati Police Circle are in quarantine at police office after swabs were collected,” Pokhrel said.
Metro prepares to reduce police presence in field
DIG and spokesperson Shahi said that the Headquarters instructed all the police offices in the Valley to reduce the number of policemen deployed in the field for now.
The Metropolitan Police Office, Ranipokhari, has been deploying around 6,000 policemen every day to implement the lockdown in the Valley, DIG Shahi said.
Shahi said that people residing in Kathmandu Valley have gradually been abiding by the lockdown, so we don’t need to deploy too many police as in the previous days.
According to Shahi, the Headquarters also issued a notice to all district offices across the country to maintain high alert and precaution to prevent the virus. “Those staff who are on holiday or leave are allowed to enter the barrack only after their corona test,” he said.