THIRTY-TWO police recruits attached to the Police Academy, St James have been tested positive for Covid-19.
And 143 other recruits as well as instructors and other persons are expected to undergo testing soon and as a result, the proposed graduation of September 16 and the passing out of this batch seven days later have been postponed indefinitely.
The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) in a media release on Saturday stated that one of the recruits had tested positive on August 25 and another three days later.
As a precaution, 42 who were in direct contact with the two recruits were immediately separated and sent to the University of the West Indies (UWI), St.Augustine and away from the other 143 recruits at the academy.
The TTPS stated that tests were conducted on the 42 recruits, with 32 returning positive and the other 10, negative. The ones who tested positive were moved to another part of the UWI campus and the ten who tested negative remains in quarantine.
.The TTPS stated, “The TTPS, like many other frontline agencies, has been affected by the Covid-19 virus. Several police stations, including the Police Administration Building had to be closed on several occasions to be sanitised after police officers contracted the virus. Several sections, branches and units were closed as the virus continue to affect police officers and civilian staff. As a result, the TTPS had to stop certain services, such as Certificate of Character and Firearms applications.”
The TTPS added that all necessary protocols are in place for the safety of the officers and despite the threat of Covid-19, officers continue to carry out all duties including road exercises and raids.
