Delhi Police’s brainwave: Prisoner vans as COVID 19 testing labs

Delhi Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava, in an exclusive interview with ETV Bharat reporter Chandrakala Choudhury, told that Delhi Police’s 22 prisoner vans will drive out to the city’s 79 containment zones across the 11 districts of the national capital to be used as COVID 19 testing labs.

New Delhi: The novel coronavirus pandemic is forcing everyone to make do with whatever is at hand. Like the central government’s out-of-the-box idea of using rail coaches as mobile hospitals and isolation wards.

Now the Delhi Police has hit a brainwave. With the government opting for rapid extensive testing in COVID-19 containment zones, Delhi Police’s 22 prisoner vans will drive out to the city’s 79 containment zones across the 11 districts of the national capital to be used as COVID 19 testing labs, while three extra vans will be on standby mode.

Delhi Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava told ETV Bharat, “The civil administration wanted some bigger vehicles hence, we have provided them vans because nowadays we are not transporting prisoners. Around 25 prisoner vans are being used for testing in different containment zones”.

In the national capital, Delhi Police is waging a frontline battle. Being out there in the streets 24/7, from guarding containment zones, tracing down cases, enforcing the lockdown and ensuring home quarantines, to handling thousands of stranded migrant labourers, all these have put the men in khaki in the vulnerable category.

“Everybody is using masks on duty and all the masks have been provided by the department. They are using hand sanitizers and gloves as well. Those who are working in places and are more exposed to risk, are provided PPE (protective equipment). Face shield is also provided to them to contain the spread of the disease. Constant advice to maintain 6-7 feet distance is given and they have been asked not to handle unknown papers as the virus can spread by any means,” Shrivastava adds.

The Delhi Police welfare fund has promised financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh to any policeman who gets infected with COVID 19 while discharging his official duty.

Additionally, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has assured Rs 1 crore to any Delhi government employee, including policemen, who lose their life due to the infection while on duty.

• Delhi Police, an organization that lives up to its Motto- Shanti Sewa Nyaya.
  
  Very proud of @DelhiPolice. Together we will win this battle. https://t.co/ZUY2Rxn9nz

  — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 19, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  Delhi Police, an organization that lives up to its Motto- Shanti Sewa Nyaya.
  
  Very proud of @DelhiPolice. Together we will win this battle. https://t.co/ZUY2Rxn9nz

  — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 19, 2020

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  Delhi Police, an organization that lives up to its Motto- Shanti Sewa Nyaya.
  
  Very proud of @DelhiPolice. Together we will win this battle. https://t.co/ZUY2Rxn9nz

  — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 19, 2020

On Sunday, Union home minister Amit Shah took to twitter, “Delhi Police, an organization that lives up to its motto—Shanti Sewa Nyaya. Very proud of Delhi Police. Together we will win this battle.”