Amidst the Coronavirus outbreak, Maharashtra Highway Police (ADGP) Additional Director General of Police Vinay Kargaonkar has put up a circular on Monday 16th March 2020 instructing all police personnel to stop the breath analyser tests used to test drunk driving.
This circular has been issued considering the coronavirus outbreak which has seen a peak number in the state of Maharashtra. The apparatus used while testing the drunk driving test has to be put into the mouths of motorists to check the level of alcohol in the immune system and now it has to be stopped with immediate effect as a precautionary step in order to avoid any physical contact.
Read More: 5 Dirtiest Areas in your Car | Reduce the Risk of Coronavirus in your Car
However, the circular also stated that these practices shall resume once the situation normalises. Additionally, the circular also stated “Outbreak of coronavirus has been reported in the state. To contain the spread of the virus, the police personnel need to take precautionary measures accordingly. Hence, Traffic Police personnel in all police units should not conduct breath-analyser tests for alcohol consumption by motorists.”
Suggested Read: Coronavirus Disrupts Supply Chains | Companies Airlifting Parts
Meanwhile, the regular checking of vehicles by all the police personnel will continue to take place. The Ministry of home affairs has also confirmed the coronavirus outbreak has led to steep decline in the drunk and driving cases.
With the state of Maharashtra recording, the highest number of the total 39 COVID-19 cases 6 cases were reported from Pune, 9 from Pimpri Chinchwad, 6 from Mumbai and 4 from Nagpur. Adding to the total number from the state 3 cases each were reported from Yavatmal, Kalyan and Navi Mumbai and 1 each from Raigad, Thane, Ahmednagar and Aurangabad have been recorded till now.
As a countermeasure, the Maharashtra Police has also issued instructions to prevent the spread of the virus among road users but has also instructed all its personnel and staff to take precautionary measures to keep this virus at bay.
Highly Recommended: 5 Dirtiest Areas in your Car | Reduce the Risk of Coronavirus in your Car
Maharashtra police have also been deployed to guard the quarantine facilities in order to prevent any patient from leaving the quarantined premises and also to conduct a regular check on patients who have been ordered to be restricted to their homes.
