More than 390 police members receiving special training for security duties at polling stations in Yangon Region have tested positive for Covid-19, a high-ranking officer of Yangon Region Police Force has confirmed. 

For the 2020 general election to be held on November 8, over 6,800 police are under training in the townships of Yangon. 

Since October 1, Covid-19 testing has started for the trainees and until now, over 390 were reported to be infected with the coronavirus. 

“They are special police who will be shouldering security duties at polling booths. The training period is from October 1 to 28. While receiving training, they had tests. Most of them have received testing. Over 390 have tested positive. The infected police members are from different townships. We have found no infected police in some townships such as Hlegu, Hmawby and Htantabin,” the police officer said. 

He added that while being trained, police have to follow the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Sports such as wearing masks, washing hands frequently and keeping ether other six feet apart. They also have to sleep in separate rooms, he said. 

Yangon Region has over 5,800 polling stations.