To Journos With Love from Police Commissioner! Anti-Contagion Face Shields Provided to Journalists
Mangaluru: The coronavirus threat has created tension in unexpected quarters, especially traffic policemen and media personnel who are in the front-line doing their duties. When it comes to policemen, every time they stop a vehicle to check for Coronavirus guidelines/lockdown violations, there are risk factors that they could face when coming face to face with motorists. And now that the traffic cops have to monitor the streets to crack down on violators who abuse total ban of vehicles order. A cross-section of traffic policemen who had said that they were the ones at risk, and their wishes were granted by Police Commissioner Dr P S Harsha, who provided them the face shields on 6 April (Ref: Concerned about Risk Factors Police Commissioner provides Anti-Contagion Face Shields to Cops).
Just like these traffic policemen who are on the front-line duty managing thousands of motorists on the City streets, who are prone to great risk of getting infected with Coronavirus aka COVID-19, since they don’t know what symptoms the stranger motorist might have- and to combat getting infected with that deadly disease, these face shields came as a preventive measure against the spread of COVID-19. Similarly, is the case, of journos who are also moving around covering the breaking news pertaining to COVID-19, and also other news, there are risk factors of them being infected with the deadly disease.
After the breaking news that appeared in print and electronic media that 53 journalists in Mumbai tested positive for coronavirus, and that Samples of 171 journalists reporting from field, including photographers, video journalists and reporters, were collected, of which most of the journalists with COVID-19 were asymptomatic,’, ( Maharastra is the worst-affected state in the country due to COVID-19, with a total of 4,204 cases, including 223 deaths so far), our beloved Police Commissioner Dr Harsha P S took quick action with his initiative of providing Anti-Contagion Face Shields for the media personnel, and the distribution of these face shields was scheduled at Urwa Police Station, on Tuesday 21 April 2020 from 11.30 am-1 pm.- and a bevy of journalists showed up to receive the gift from the Police Commissioner.
It should be noted that when Dakshina Kannada, including Mangaluru city, was struck with Dengue/Malaria, many lives were lost, including a couple of media persons, who were infected by the disease when they had gone for the coverage. In order to prevent such calamities that happened during the Dengue/Malaria outbreak, the police commissioner in the interest of the journos, took a quick plan of action in providing them the face shields, thereby preventing them from the spread of COVID-19. The media persons who showed up at the Urwa Police Station were shown how to use the face shield by Annu M S- Reserve Security Inspector, who was joined by Mohammed Sharief-Police Inspector, Shrikala- Police Sub Inspector, Dejappa- Assistant Sub Inspector, and Rangegowda- Police Inspector, among other police personnel at the Station.
Police commissioner Dr P S Harsha, has stated, “The Specialized protection equipment, Anti-contagion face shields, have been provided to all of you media people who are always on the run taking the highest risk of exposure to coronavirus in Mangaluru. Therefore I have decided to procure few face shields for you all, which helps you when you use it along with a face mask. They are fighting a pandemic for you. Comply with all legal instructions. Always carry your ID card issued by DIPR”. These Anti-contagion face shields provided to the journos by the Police Commissioner in prevention against the spread of the COVID-19 are far better and sophisticated than the present face mask we have been using- and they will serve as a protective weapon/shield when we are in the line of duty, doing our news coverage.
Team Mangalorean extends heartfelt thanks to Police Commissioner Dr Harsha P S for his kind gesture towards the journos, during the time of Pandemic.
