WHILE enforcing lockdown and saving commoners from the coronavirus, it is necessary for the police personnel to maintain their health as 21 policemen had succumbed to COVID-19 last year. To help the force tide over the second wave of the pandemic, Nagpur Police brass has adopted a series of welfare measures including vanity vans, quick response for medical needs, discounts in private labs and ambulances. An official informed ‘The Hitavada’ that three fully air-conditioned vanity vans have been arranged for the cops so that they can take a break and refresh themselves in the scorching heat.

 

These vans remained stationed at bandobast points and police personnel are getting some relief in the vans. “We are going to arrange four more such vans this month,” the official said. The vans are equipped with washrooms, beds, television, tea tables and microwave ovens. A team of five officers has been constituted to help the COVID-19 affected police personnel immediately.

 

These officials are available round the clock on telephone and are making arrangements for beds, oxygen and medicines. Similarly, ambulances are kept reserved to immediately rush ailing police personnel to the hospital. In a major relief, some private laboratories and Computed Tomography (CT) scan investigation are also providing more than 40 per cent discount in bills to police. The official said that the patients in home isolation need CT scan and blood sample investigations. “Some laboratories are providing discount as a gesture to the front-line workers,” he said. Similarly, many facilities are available at the police hospital in headquarters and policemen are getting the right treatment there. 

 

COVID-19 claims 21 police personnel A TOTAL of 1,260 police personnel tested positive and 18 died in the first wave of the Novel Coronavirus pandemic last year. This year, 470 police personnel contracted COVID-19 and three personnel breathed their last during treatment so far. Of them, two were vaccinated. The positivity rate among police personnel has decreased this year as compared to last year due to aggressive vaccination as more than 80 per cent policemen have been vaccinated as front-line workers. Of these 470 policemen, many are not showing serious symptoms, the official said.