By Arjun Kafle, Syangja, July 27: Infection of SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 has been confirmed in 18 police personnel including chief of the district police office here in Syangja district.

With this, number of police personnel infected with the novel coronavirus in the district has reached 21. Earlier, three police personnel working in the district police office had tested positive for the virus.

Almost a week ago, on July 21, two constables working at the account and management section and a policeman had tested positive for the virus.

Following the detection of infection in the police officials in the district police office, swabs of 73 security personnel working in the district police office, prison house, communications offices were collected for the test on July 22 and 23.

Of the 18 confirmed infected today, only one is a female.

The district police chief expressed confidence that he would win over the virus infection as he got infected while serving the people.

Chief District Officer, Ganga Bahadur Chhetri, said that strict measures were taken with regard to unnecessary mobility of people within Putalibazar area following confirmation of virus infection in 18 police officials.

The CDO said that contact tracing of the infected police officials was initiated and swabs of all those who came in close contact with the infected would be collected and tested for the virus.

So far, 223 people have been found infected with the virus in the district. Of the infected, 188 have recovered while two succumbed to the infection.