LAHAN, Aug 24: As the Province 2 sees a sudden spike in the cases of novel coronavirus diseases (COVID-19), as many as 126 police personnel in the Province have contracted the virus so far.
According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ashukumar Singh at the District Police Office, Siraha, a total of 77 police personnel have already recovered, while 49 others are still undergoing treatment.
Those infected with the virus include a Deputy Superintendent of Police, two Inspectors, seven Sub-Inspectors, 13 Assistant Sub-Inspectors, 27 Head Constables, 70 Constables and six followers.
One dies, 26 others test positive for COVID-19 in Dharan
Siraha district alone has reported COVID-19 infection among 40 police personnel. The number of police personnel infected with the virus stands 24 in Saptari, seven in Dhanusha, five in Mahottari and eight in Sarlahi districts.
Due to a surge in COVID-19 cases across the nation, the duty hours of the police personnel have also been extended from 8 to 16 hours, according to Deputy Inspector General Diraj Pratap Singh, who heads Province 2 Police Office. Police personnel are increasingly exposed to people infected with the COVID-19 in the course of their regular duty.
In recent days, the Province 2 has also started witnessing symptomatic COVID-19 cases among police personnel. Those in close contact with symptomatic patients are undergoing Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests.
In addition to police personnel, the COVID-19 cases have been detected among inmates as well in the Province 2. As of Sunday, 8,832 people have contracted the COVID-19 in Province 2. The COVID-19 death toll in the Province stands at 62 and the recovery tally at 4,237.
