After two traffic police personnel were found infected with Covid-19, the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division has been sealed from Sunday morning.

According to Superintendent of Police Bamdev Gautam, spokesperson for the Division, it will be stopping its regular services which involve contact with the outside public for a few days.

“We are on high alert after two personnel were infected with the coronavirus,” Gautam told the Post. “Our internal administrative work will continue, but the public will not be allowed to enter the division for a few days.”

Members of the public visiting the traffic police office to claim vehicle documents after a violation of traffic rules, pay fines, attend awareness classes and for other traffic-related accidents will not be allowed into the premises starting from Sunday.

Nearly 300 traffic personnel including the Division Chief Senior Superintendent of Police Bhim Prasad Dhakal have been put under quarantine following the confirmation of infection among traffic personnel.

There were concerns about possible infection among traffic police personnel after the Division had resumed drink and drive test after months of lockdown. Cases of Covid-19 have been on the rise in the Kathmandu Valley lately.

“We cannot say how they got infected but their contact tracing is underway,” said Gautam.

The cut-off in available human resources is likely to affect vehicular movement in the valley. However, spokesperson Gautam said the vehicular movement will not be affected outside as the traffic personnel from other units will be mobilised for providing the support.

The Division has a total of 1,545 personnel under it.

After around 300 have gone into quarantine, the day-to-day work including the traffic management on the street is likely to be affected, said another official at the Division, who did not want to be identified.

“Vehicular movement will be affected,” said the traffic police official who has also gone into quarantine. “The Division will be mobilizing officers to the areas with heavy traffic movement from the area with less movement.”