Another policeman dies from Covid-19

Another policeman died of Covid-19 while undergoing treatment at Central Police Hospital in the capital yesterday.

Jalaluddin Khoka, 47, a constable at Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), breathed his last around 7:10pm, according to a statement of the Police Headquarters.

With him, the death toll among cops rose to seven and all of them were from DMP, the statement said.

Meanwhile, different police units are forming "special teams" to visit the Covid-19 infected force members and inquire about their health, maintaining social distancing.

"The teams will visit Covid-19 infected police personnel, inquire about their health, take steps to solve their problems and ensure treatment for all irrespective of their positions in the force," the Police Headquarters said in a press release yesterday.

Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed has directed the officers concerned to form teams in every unit.

The initiative was taken so that the infected cops and those in isolation and quarantine did not feel demoralised, police officials said.

Meanwhile, the number of police personnel infected with Covid-19 reached 1,532 till yesterday noon. Among them are 723 members of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, according to PHQ statistics.

Besides, around 4,000 more are in isolation or quarantine.

As the Central Police Hospital in the capital's Rajarbagh is struggling to deal with the huge number of patients, the police authorities have booked a private hospital to treat its members.