With over 6,000 policemen already infected with Covid-19 virus in the country, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DM) recorded the highest number of infections, around 1,900, in all 50 police stations under it.
Members of the police – who had been working on the frontline to ensure social distancing, traffic management, and maintaining vital check posts during the pandemic— remain most vulnerable to Covid-19 infection along with doctors and healthcare professionals.
Among all police stations in the capital, New Market police station came to the top with reporting the highest number of coronavirus infection cases at the start of the global pandemic.
The first three cases identified in early April at New Market police station were immediately isolated from others, but the infection spread like wildfire after two infected police personnel came in contact with all officials at the station.
However, the police station witnessed no new cases over the past one month after adopting various measures and precautions.
“Moreover, it has now only five policemen in the recovery stage, while the rest 28 have already recovered,” said DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) (New Market zone) Md Shahed Mia to Dhaka Tribune.
How did they manage to control the spread?
Asked about how the police station became a role model in curbing the spread of Covid-19, ADC Md Shahed Mia said that all police officials and personnel at the station were shifted to different residential hotels in separate rooms.
Later, after testing all members of the police station for Covid-19, those who were found positive were sent to the hospital for treatment while the rest went back to their stations.
Similarly, the whole police station was sprayed with disinfectants and a disinfection gate has been installed at the entrance to the government facility.
“Every seat at the barrack of the police station has been rearranged to ensure proper distance between one another. Besides, barracks of officers and other members have been separated,” said ADC Md Shahed Mia.
“Every member of the station is being strictly monitored on whether they are using personal protective equipment properly and cleaning them every day after duty.”
Besides, food containing Vitamin C is being provided, along with Zinc and Vitamin C tablets, regularly.
“The workforce at the station has been divided into two shifts. One shift works for one consecutive week and takes rest the next week,” he said, adding this is done “to curb the spread of the infection.”
