Dhaka: The number of COVID-19 cases in the police force is rising rapidly as 207 more cops tested positive in the last 24 hours across the country.

With this, the total number of coronavirus cases among police personnel reached 1,756 till this noon. Of them, 810 are from Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), according to a tally of the Bangladesh Police Headquarters.

A large number of the other infected personnel are from Narayanganj, Gazipur and Dhaka districts, sources at the police headquarters said.

According to officials, 1,933 police personnel were sent to 14-day quarantine in last 24 hours as they either came in contact with COVID-19 positive persons or showed symptoms.

So far, 165 police personnel have recovered while seven have died from infections, the data added.

As Central Police Hospital is struggling to deal with the increasing number of COVID-19 patients, Bangladesh Police has booked Impulse Hospital to treat its infected members.

PHQ officials said that instructions also were given to different unit chiefs, especially to range deputy inspector generals, to book some district-level hospitals for the treatment of police personnel and arrange division level arrangements.

Against this backdrop, the force has already brought changes to its plan to deploy manpower, believing it would help avoid coronavirus transmission. Only half its members are out at the field at a time for a week. The other group is deployed the next week, according to the sources at PHQ.

https://www.thedailystar.net/coronavirus-update-in-bangladesh-207-police-personnel-test-COVID-19-positive-in-24-hours-1901599