The SAPS 10111 call centre was shut on Wednesday afternoon after two police officers from the Flying Squad tested positive for the Coronavirus.
According to a source, staff at the call centre in Maitland got a skrik when they arrived at work and were told a colleague had been diagnosed with the dreaded Covid-19 virus and the centre would be closed.
“The call centre and the Flying Squad are on the same base,” says the source.
“On Wednesday morning the staff were told that one Flying Squad member tested positive and was being treated at Tygerberg Hospital and that everyone would now be tested and the centre closed as the member had been in contact with the staff at the call centre.
“This is the main hub where all the calls come through and then get diverted to the stations.”
A senior police officer told the Daily Voice that station commanders across the Western Cape have been issued with a letter indicating the centre would be shut and calls would be diverted through the various police cluster operations rooms.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Vish Naidoo confirms the closure of the call centre.
CONFIRM: SAPS Spokesperson Brigadier Vish Naidoo
“The call centre was closed at 4pm on Wednesday after two members, a sergeant and a constable, of the Flying Squad had tested positive for the virus,” says Naidoo.
“The two members from two different shifts are affected, resulting in the temporary closure which will see the base being decontaminated by the health department and staff will be tested.
“All the members on the two affected shifts will also be tested and at this stage they will undergo the 14-day isolation, but they will return to work.
“The Flying Squad is still operational.”
He says while SAPS hope to have the call centre up and running by 6pm today, the public can still call the 10111 number for help.
“People can still call the number and they will be diverted to one of the six cluster operational rooms as well as the provincial commander centre.
“We hope to have the centre operational by 6pm on Friday.”
Last week, both the Athlone and Hermanus police stations were shut after an officer at each station tested positive for the virus.
The cop shops were opened after decontamination.