Staff Reporter
Two police stations in the Free State were closed this morning after some officers tested positive for COVID-19.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Thandi Mbambo announced in two separate statements that Kroonstad and Allanridge police stations have been temporarily closed after an officer at each of the two community service centres tested positive for the coronavirus.
“All communities serviced by Kroonstad SAPS are advised that the station has been temporarily closed after one member tested positive for COVID-19,” Mbambo said in her initial statement around mid-morning Monday.
Kroonstad is an agriculture-rich town in Fezile Dabi district and is also a transit point for both road and railway.
The district presently has about 160 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
About two hours later, Mbambo made a second announcement that police in Allanridge, a gold mining town in Lejweleputswa District, had also been hit by the virus.
Lejweleputswa has about 124 confirmed cases of the disease, according to the latest figures.
“All communities serviced by Allanridge SAPS are advised that the station has been temporarily closed after one member tested positive for COVID-19,” she said.
Mbambo said the Kroonstad community will be assisted from Sarel Celliers Hall, also known as the Old Town Hall, which is behind the police station and NG Church in the town.
Allanridge residents will be assisted from a contact point situated at the entrance to Nyakallong township.
Mbambo said the buildings at the two police stations will undergo decontamination and residents will be advised as soon as they are operational again.
Meanwhile, the provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane, says Mangaung police station in Bloemfontein, which was closed for the second time following a COVID-19 health scare last Friday, is now operational.
“All health protocols have since been followed and the affected members have been quarantined or isolated accordingly,” she said.
The Free State has about 1 279 cases of COVID-19 and 382 recoveries, while about 13 people have succumbed to the disease.