An officer at the Hermanus Police Station has tested positive for the coronavirus, forcing the station to shut its doors. This is the second Western Cape police station to be closed as a result of COVID-19.
Last week the Athlone Police Station closed after one of their officers contracted the virus. Other officers who were in contact with the patient were sent to self-isolate while the station was decontaminated. Since then, the station has reopened its doors.
The Hermanus Police Station will follow the same protocols. The building is now being decontaminated and sanitised, and other officers are now in self-quarantine.
In a statement issued by the Overberg District Municipality, Brigadier Donovan Heilbron, Cluster Commander of the Overberg district said: “As a precautionary measure, we immediately ensured the Hermanus Police Station was evacuated. All our SAPS members from Hermanus have been informed. And we are currently decontaminating and sanitising the police station, in order to ensure it’s safe and operational as soon as possible.”
According to EWN, all officers who were in contact with their infected colleague have not shown symptoms of the virus, however they will maintain the practice of self-isolation.
Those who were not in contact with the patient will ensure the station’s police work gets done from a mobile facility that they have set up. “We continue to ensure a prominent police presence in the Hermanus district, and to work to keep our Overstrand residents safe during this lockdown period, ” said Heilbron.
The station is expected to be fully operational as soon as the decontamination and sanitation process is complete.
Picture: Facebook / South African Police Service