Number of COVID-19 infected policemen crosses 1,500

A total of 1,509 police members got infected with coronavirus as of Saturday while performing their duties during the pandemic.

Among the infected police members, 708 are from Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) alone, officials at Police Headquarters told UNB.

Besides, six members of the law enforcement agency died from the virus during the same period, they added.

Currently, 2,870 policemen are in quarantine while 466 are being treated at hospitals.

Besides, 110 infected police members made full recovery, they also said.

Members of Bangladesh Police, Armed forces, and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), along with other agencies have been jointly working to ensure social distancing across the country.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Police hired Impulse Hospital in the capital for the treatment of coronavirus-infected police members.

The 250-bed hospital will treat only police members infected with coronavirus, said Md Sohel Rana, assistant inspector general (AIG-Media) of the Police Headquarters.

Bangladesh has so far confirmed 13,770 coronavirus cases and 214 deaths.

Even though the government extended the general holidays till 16 May, it relaxed the restrictions on people’s movement to some extent considering Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr.

Businesspeople have been allowed to keep shops and shopping malls open till 4:00pm every day with a condition of maintaining health guidelines.