Chandigarh, Apr 19 (IANS): Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Dinkar Gupta on Sunday announced protective and welfare measures for the police personnel battling Covid-19 and directed non-deployment of cops over 55 or those with pre-existing medical risk on frontline jobs.

The DGP issued directed to follow a rotational system of providing a weekly off or rest to the frontline personnel with efforts to organise their deployment in such a manner that two days of rest can be provided to all the personnel after every 10 days.

He also directed that police personnel over 55 years of age or those with pre-existing and enhanced medical risk factors, such as hypertension issues, cardiac history, asthma or a compromised or suppressed immune system for any reason should not be deployed on the frontline as far as possible.

To ensure protection for these police personnel, the DGP has requested the Chief Secretary to direct the State Health Department to provide a minimum of 4050 PPE kits and 18,000 N-95 Masks on an immediate basis.