‘Laxman Rekha’ to help Bhubaneswar-Cuttack cops keep Covid-19 at bay

BHUBANESWAR: The commissionerate police have drawn a plan called ‘5-day Laxman Rekha’ to keep their personnel away from Covid-19 infection. Personnel, suffering from cough, cold or fever, have been strictly asked to undergo rapid antigen test (RAT) and RT-PCR if they do not recover within five days.
The Laxman Rekha order has been issued after three Covid-cured cops were re-infected by the deadly virus a few days ago. A five-member team of doctors of the police hospital here has been closely monitoring the health issues of the police force.
Of the 8,000 personnel, who work under the commissionerate police in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack cities, at least 1800 cops were already infected by Covid-19 virus. Active positive cases in the police force in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack currently stood at only 30. Covid-led casualty figure in the commissionerate police stood at six so far.
“Our 5-day Laxman Rekha step is aimed at making aggressive monitoring and providing timely medical facilities to the infected personnel. Though the infection rate among the personnel has substantially come down, all have been asked to maintain alertness in the winter,” a senior police officer said.
Notably, chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday appealed to people to exercise maximum caution to avoid a possible second wave of Covid-19 infection after the second week of December. Health experts have also been advising people to remain extra careful during the winter.
The police said a number of their personnel were infected by Covid-19 virus because of their negligence. “We urge our colleagues to ensure timely medical intervention. In the first two days of catching cold, cough or fever, they should immediately go for RAT. Those, having serious symptoms, should undergo RT-PCR within five days from the date of feeling unwell,” the officer said.
The police have also formed a WhatsApp group, involving doctors to regularly monitor the health of cops through video calls and chats. “We have set up dedicated rapid antigen test centres at the police hospitals in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. A standard operating procedure was already issued to police stations on how to handle complainants during the pandemic. Investigating officers have been strictly asked to wear personal protective equipment when they visit hospitals to conduct medical tests of accused, inquest of bodies and consult doctors,” the officer said.
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