85 BSF personnel test positive for coronavirus; total over 150 cases

NEW DELHI: Eighty-five more Border Security Force personnel have tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases in the force to 154.

Two of them have recovered, meaning there are currently 152 cases. These cases are mainly of personnel posted in Delhi, Tripura and Kolkata. The BSF also said that its force headquarters in Delhi, which was partially closed on Monday after a staff member, a Head Constable, was found positive for the virus on Sunday night, has been reopened on Wednesday.

The first two floors of the headquarters were shut as a precaution, because the Head Constable was working on the second floor. The headquarters was sanitised on Monday and Tuesday.


“While performing operational and essential duties, 85 more BSF personnel have been infected with Covid-19. 3. It is reiterated that in each establishment of BSF, all SOPs are strictly followed. Instructions of the Health Ministry are enforced and religiously followed to check the spread of pandemic,” the BSF said.

On Tuesday, a total of 69 BSF personnel were found COVID-19 positive in different establishments. These personnel had contracted the virus during essential and operational duties.

Two of them have recovered and 67 are undergoing treatment. The cases also include the Head Constable, who was shifted to an ITBP COVID-19 hospital in Noida. Five BSF personnel, being primary contacts, were immediately put under quarantine. Eleven BSF personnel who were secondary contacts have been identified and are being put on quarantine.

With 85 more cases, the total number of coronavirus cases in the BSF so far has risen to 152. These include personnel from BSF battalions deployed with the Delhi Police for law and order duties.

The other cases are from Tripura and Kolkata. Around 30 BSF jawans, who were part of a company deployed in Delhi, tested positive for the virus in Jodhpur.

The other central armed police forces are also badly affected by the virus are the Central Reserve Police Force, which has around 142 cases and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police with 45 affected personnel.