PPE shortage puts Punjab police at risk

Reports suggest Covid-19 spreading quickly in the force

LAHORE: The flawed policies of the top brass of police and government authorities, along with their lethargic approach and myopic vision in the fight against the coronavirus disease, is bearing results.

The authorities concerned have failed to ensure the provision of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and proper sanitisation facilities to Punjab Police personnel during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Due to the indifferent attitude of the police command, field officers and personnel have started bearing the brunt.

Reports suggest that Covid-19 is spreading at a fast pace in the rank and file of the force.

Two officials have lost their lives due to the virus and at least 286 have tested positive for the disease, including one posted at the Central Police Office.

Moreover, 372 officials were quarantined, while test reports of over 4,000 are pending. If the pace of the virus’ spread is taken into account, things seem to be heading towards a disastrous situation in the coming weeks as police personnel is among the frontline workers in the fight against the contagion.

The shortage of PPE may lead to a crisis of governance as not a single policy or step is being implemented at the grassroots level without the presence of police. A large number of Covid-19 cases and the government’s lack of interest to ensure the protection of police have already affected the morale of the force.

If the positive cases’ trajectory continues to rise, Covid-19 symptoms among police officials on duty at pickets and police stations may become a common sight.

The morale may decline to such an extent that officials may resist public dealing or duties in crowded places. This may prove to be the end of policing as its essence lies in public dealing.

The Punjab government and the top brass of police are responsible for the situation being faced by the officials.

The authorities concerned did not ensure the protection of police officers against Covid-19 by providing PPE, especially for those deployed for patient transfer and at pickets for the lockdown.

The lack of PPE was not the only area of negligence by the authorities. They, after failing to ensure the police officers’ protection, exposed them to the virus by sending them to the spots where cases had flared up or sent them on duties like tracing those having symptoms and shifting the suspected patients to quarantine centres.

The police officials posted outside sealed areas, quarantine centres, quarantined houses and for shifting, patients were not wearing PPE.

The officials were carrying out their duties without even wearing surgical masks.

However, it may still not be too late to flatten the curve. The crisis had not hit yet. The spread of the virus can be curbed if serious measures are taken. The required measures include the immediate provision of PPE to every office on a regular basis.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21^st, 2020.