The state government has decided to give full salary to the family members of police personnel at the forefront of the Covid-19 fight till their retirement if they die of the disease.
“The family members of the employees who fall victim to the disease are entitled to their full salary. Besides, compensation will be provided to the family members of the deceased cops as per the government’s announcement,” director-general of police (DGP) Abhay said.
The family members will also be entitled to pension.
The government’s announcement comes at a time a constable of Satasankha police outpost under Pipili police station in Puri district succumbed to Covid-19. The police station has been closed after eight cops tested positive. Police have urged people not to visit the police station for the next seven days.
The constable, who passed away, was undergoing treatment at a Covid hospital. “His body was cremated with full state honours,” said police inspector in-charge Gauranga Charan Prusty. So far, 21 police personnel in the state have succumbed to the deadly virus.
Most of them contracted the virus while educating people on following the Covid-19 guidelines or doing their duty at various market squares where crowd management was necessary.
Meanwhile, the Covid death toll in Odisha reached 580 with the death of 11 patients on Wednesday.
The state’s recovery tally has crossed the one-lakh mark. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik congratulated health workers for achieving the feat. So far, 1,02,185 people have recovered from this disease.
Lauding the efforts of health workers, Naveen tweeted, “In a momentous occasion in our fight against #COVID19, #Odisha has crossed one lakh recoveries. Salute to thousands of health workers and #CovidWarriors who have sacrificed hugely and worked with unflinching dedication to save precious lives.”
Officials said the state achieved this target by opening up a number of Covid hospitals, constantly motivating the health workers to visit villages regularly and by introducing plasma therapy in the state.
So far, Odisha has reported 1,35,130 Covid cases with 3,748 fresh cases reported during the last 24 hours.
