MORE than 76,000 police personnel across India have tested positive for Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic up till August 21, according to Xinhua News Agency quoting local media.

The information, according to the Times of India, was revealed in a publication of the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), a government-owned consultancy organisation.

“The BPR&D published a special compendium highlighting the police’s role in the fight against Covid-19. It stated that as many as 76,768 police personnel across the country had tested positive until August 21,” the newspaper said.

“There were also 401 fatalities among the cops till August 21.”

According to the report, Maharashtra, which has reported the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the country, had reported 12,760 cases among police personnel and 129 deaths, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 6,708 cases and 19 deaths.

The eastern state of West Bengal reported 5,794 cases and 19 deaths, followed by Karnataka police with 4,925 cases and 32 deaths.     

India, which is in the grip of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, imposed a nationwide lockdown on March 25 to contain the spread of virus.

The number of Covid-19 cases in the country has reached 5,903,932, including 93,379 deaths reported today.   

Globally, India is the second worst country to affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.  – Bernama, September 26, 2020.