Police team to shift suspected patients

Officials deputed after complaints over resistance by certain citizens at few points

LAHORE: Lahore police have constituted a 60-member special team to ensure shifting of suspected coronavirus patients to hospitals. The decision was made in light of complaints of resistance by certain suspected patients in some areas.

The Part IV about Control of Potentially Infectious Persons of the Punjab Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control Ordinance, 2020 empowered Lahore police and other authorities concerned to take such measures.

The decision was taken during a video meeting chaired by Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Zulfiqar Hameed on Thursday.

The CCPO said that 10 police personnel in each division will be deployed for the purpose. “Preventive medical kits will be provided to all members of special teams,” the CCPO pledged.

He directed the SP security to arrange safety kits as early as possible. “Police teams would only work in the presence of health department’s experts to ensure safety of police personnel.”

He warned that there was no room for relaxation in the guidelines issued for implementation of lockdown. “Those who leave their homes unnecessarily should be sent back immediately,” he said.

However, he emphasised that food supply should not be stopped during the lockdown and full support should be provided to goods transport. “Do not stop the medical and paramedical staff at any point,” he further said.

The CCPO also told the officials that any accused should not be placed in custody except in an inevitable situation. “In any case, those arrested should be released on bail as per law,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lahore Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Syed Hammad Raza ordered all divisional and circle officers to impound vehicles on violation of pillion riding.

However, senior citizens, women and officials of law enforcement agencies have been exempted from the ban.

The CTO said that traffic police had been briefing citizens about the ban for the last three days. “Afterwards, they would proceed to impound the vehicles.”

In another development, a private foundation arranged 350 hand sanitisers, 2,000 face masks and 30 protection kits for officials of Punjab Police.

Briefing on coronavirus

A briefing was given to police officials, especially those deputed at quarantine centres, regarding preventive measures against coronavirus, at Qila Gujjar Singh Police Lines. The officials were briefed about the use of safety kits, field duty for coronavirus and general SOPs to protect themselves from the virus. Mayo Hospital Professor Dr Arif Rasheed also briefed police officials about shifting of patients and burial of coronavirus victims. 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 27^th, 2020.