With an aim to protect personnel from the clutches of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Mumbai Police has now asked all policemen in the force who are above the age of 55 or those with pre-existing ailments to go on leave. The move comes immediately after three personnel of the Mumbai Police died, in quick succession, of COVID-19, the pandemic that is engulfing India like wildfire.
At least 95 policemen in the city were identified who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are currently undergoing treatment at various city hospitals across the state. The news has sent ripples through the underbelly of the city police circles. “In view of this, we have decided to protect our policemen and officers – who are above 55 years of age and having some pre-existing ailment – and asked them to take leave,” a senior official of the Mumbai Police said on Tuesday. “Because of their age, these police personnel are at a higher risk. Therefore, we are allowing them to take leave during these days,” he added
For context, it is not yet clear as to when and how all the infected police personnel were infected with the virus. Authorities are tracing their contact history and some headway is expected in this regard soon. However, for good measure, some of the policemen’s close contacts have been identified and are currently undergoing testing to help trace the virus’s potential contamination route. Other policemen who were in touch with the deceased have also been quarantined at their own homes as a precaution.
Notably, in India, the state of Maharashtra has emerged as the epicenter of coronavirus spread where cases have crossed the 8,500-mark. Mumbai, the financial capital of the country, has become the hotbed of the coronavirus spread in the state. It may be recalled that the Mumbai Police is at the forefront of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our personnel are risking their lives daily to protect the city and keeping their personal health and immunity strong has been a major priority for us,’’ another official said today.
