New York, NY – The NYPD is reporting this week, that despite devastating losses, efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 among the ranks, is headed in the right direction.
As of this week, 4,707 or 13-percent of uniformed members, were out sick. That’s down from a high of 19.8-percent.
So far, 4,518 members of the NYPD have tested positive for the coronavirus. But 2,617 — or more than half of those members — have recovered and returned to full duty.
Still, there are 1,482 uniformed members and 381 civilian members in the NYPD that are out sick diagnosed with COVID-19.
The coronavirus has already claimed the lives of 31 department members.
On April 21, School Safety Agent Sharon Williams, a member of the NYPD’s School Safety Division, died from complications related to the coronavirus. Williams joined the NYPD on June 30, 2017.
Earlier in the week, the NYPD lost Traffic Section Commander Mohammed Chowdhury, a member since April 30, 1990, to coronavirus complications on April 19. He was 11 days shy of what would have been his 30th anniversary in the department.
The tragic losses, however, have not hampered NYPD efforts enforce social distancing, officials say.
“Officers continue to visit restaurants, bars, supermarkets, salons and public spaces to remind individuals of the ban on congregating in public spaces and to practice social distancing,” NYPD brass said in a statement.
From March 23 to April 21, officers have visited a total of 409,948 locations as part of its social distancing enforcement.
The 13th Precinct recently issued 41 criminal court summonses and conducted three arrests at a single social gathering at 20 West 23rd street in Manhattan.
Officers still have to contend with crime during the pandemic — especially in the subway system.
Crime stats reflect a nearly 55-percent uptick in robberies over the same time last year, despite a 95-percent drop in ridership, according to a tweet by the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association [PBA].
Transit police plan to shift more cops to the subway system, as a result.
“The world knows New Yorkers are resilient and we will get through this together,” the NYPD said in a statement.
