Coronavirus: Bengaluru’s 395 policemen have tested positive for COVID-19, says senior officer

As of July 9, 190 Bengaluru policemen have been cured of coronavirus while 200 are under treatment  

Bengaluru: As many as 395 policemen have tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) since the outbreak of the pandemic in Karnataka’s capital Bengaluru. This includes five deaths, said Inspector General of Police and Additional Commissioner of Police (Administration) Hemant Nimbalkar.

He said as of Thursday (July 9), 190 have been cured while 200 are under treatment. Twenty police stations have been sealed, he added.

He claimed the Bengaluru Police have suffered the most compared to any department, organisation or institution because the force is deployed in the field and dealing with the situation.

The infection among police is highest despite training being given to them on how to protect themselves from the coronavirus.

According to him, every morning duty charter is given to the police personnel where they are told how to avoid getting the infection and handle the situation if they find symptoms of coronavirus.

"Despite taking all the precautions, infection in our department is high because we are the ones who are on the road. We are meeting hundreds of people whom we don’t know, whether they are COVID infected or not," Nimbalkar said.

Along with the policemen, their families too are at risk of contracting the virus.

An assistant sub-inspector at VV Puram police station was the first casualty in the Bengaluru Police on June 13. A heart patient, who was on leave due to ill health, collapsed at home and died. Tests confirmed that he was infected with the virus.