Amid the Covid-19 outbreak, the CRPF has begun restricting movements of its administrative personnel to check the spread of the deadly virus. However, operational units will be allowed movement for various internal security and anti-insurgency roles.
Keeping in view the threat of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), all adm. (administrative) movements are to be strictly restricted Only ops. (operational) movements are allowed and that too with all precautions/proper sanitations (use mask and sanitisers) against Coronavirus disease. The personnel returning after operational duties should sanitise themselves properly, reads an order issued by the 221 Battalion of the CRPF.
The companies of the 221 battalion are deployed in Ranchi, Jaipur, Bhopal, Mumbai and Kerala, officials said. Similar advisories are being issued by other battalions, sources said.
The advisory also suggests that the personnel living with families (either in Government quarters or outside) should be briefed to restrict their movements specially in crowded areas.
It has further directed the personnel to avoid consuming eatables from outside and should not allow visitors/guests till April 15. The personnel will not be issued outpass/station leave till April 15.
The CRPF with a strength of 3,25 lakh personnel is the biggest paramilitary force in the world and has cancelled all leaves except in cases of extreme emergency to check the spread of Covid-19, declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation . The leaves of personnel who are already on vacation will be extended till April 15. In case of extreme emergency, the personnel will granted leave for a period not less than 30 days.
In an advisory issued by the CRPF headquarters here on Thursday and circulated to all the formations, the paramilitary discontinued the practice of grant of audience of the personnel with the CRPF DG from March 23 till further orders in order to prevent the spread of the virus.
The medical wing of the Union Home Ministry through an advisory to all the 7 paramilitary forces on Wed stated that the novel Corona virus is the most infectious virus the world has seen in recent times.
The medical wing also said India is already in the middle of a pandemic and National Disaster Act has been put in place. The Indian Council of Medical Research has given an estimated 30 days to prepare. The only thing that is likely to slow the exponential growth and spread of the infection is measures for prevention of community transmission, said the advisory titled "Covid-19 Outbreak: Roles and responsibilities for occupational safety and health of force personnel.