The number of active Covid-19 cases in the paramilitary forces has jumped over 11 times in just 11 days from a meagre 148 cases as on December 28 to 1,668 cases till Friday.
In a single day, the tally of Covid cases jacked up by 441 cases from 1,227 cases on Thursday to 1,668 cases on Friday which is a surge of over 35 percent in just one day.
As on Friday, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) topped the list with 466 active cases followed by 485 cases in Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), 354 in Border Security Force (BSF) and 217 in Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
Likewise, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) had 64 cases followed by 57 in the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 25 in National Security Guards (NSG).
On December 28, the tally of the infected was just 42 in CRPF, 44 in CISF, 46 in BSF, eight in SSB, five in ITBP, one in NDRF and two in NSG.
“The country has been witnessing a steady rise in Covid-19 cases in the last two weeks and there is sudden upsurge of the cases from last three days and the potential threat of new variant “Omicron” is looming large,” according to a communication titled “Preparedness and response to restrict third wave of Covid-19” by Director (Medical) of CRPF and sent to all the formations on Friday. .
The Union Home Ministry MHA vide its Letter No. LO-3/3/2020-DM-I(A) dated December 27, 2021 has provided a narrative framework for States/Union Territories to facilitate decision making on test positivity of 10 percent or more in the last one week and bed occupancy rate of 40 percent or more on oxygen support/ICU beds.
However, based on the local situation and population characteristics, states and UTs can take containment measures and restrictions before these thresholds are reached.
In view of the sudden upsurge of Covid-19 infection and potential threat of Omicron, the CRPF has directed all its formations to reactivate all Covid Care Centres (CCC) and dedicated Covid Health Centres (DCHC).
In addition, the CRPF has further directed re-establishment of all isolation/quarantine facilities and strict isolation/quarantine of all returnees from leave/temporary duties/courses in accordance with the Covid-19 state protocols.All social gatherings in the CRPF have been advised to be cancelled/postponed. Meeting of officers may be done in virtual/online mode.
The Medical Directorate of the CRPF has also advised that attendance in offices may be reduced to 50 percent. All non-essential travel of service personnel may be curtailed. Physical attendance in courses/training may be stopped.