253 SAPS police officers tested positive for coronavirus
253 SAPS police officers have tested positive for coronavirus, infections they picked while on duty.
Police Minister Bheki Cele briefing a joint meeting of parliamentary committees reported that he is worried about the raising number of COVID-19 cases in police. He revealed that Western Cape Province leads with 178 cases, Eastern Cape 13 cases, Gauteng 11 cases, KwaZulu-Natal 8 cases and the rest recorded little or no cases.
The Minister said South African Police Services management is deeply worried with the raising number of infections among its members. Despite all the efforts to protect Police officers while executing their duties, the nature of their work continue to expose them.
“ There is a national steering committee and pandemic management in SAPS, they developed strict protocols and police members are screened daily in line with Department of Health recommended protocols. Where there are reported positive cases, all members in direct contact get tested and sent to quarantine immediately,” he added.
Minister Cele revealed that their biggest challenge of SAPS police officers is the need to initiate close body contact and searching of coffins. Smugglers now claim to be going for funerals while transporting alcohol and other dangerous substances.
“It is posing a serious challenge. You have to open coffins because there are drugs and alcohol. It puts our members in danger of being infected with disease as they do their job,” he said.
SAPS counter parts , Correctional services is also battling to flattern the COVI-19 infections curve. The number of positive #COVID19 SouthAfrica cases at Correctional Services centres around the country now stands at 177. Five new cases were reported on Friday.
253 SAPS police officers tested positive for coronavirus. Should the police wear front line protective clothing? Let us hear your thoughts in the comments section.
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