Nine police officers based in Blackburn are self-isolating after attending a colleague's retirement party.
Lancashire Police confirmed this morning that a serving officer contracted coronavirus and started showing symptoms following a 'staff gathering' to celebrate a colleague's retirement.
They said that 22 members of staff who came into contact with the officer have now been sent home to self-isolate following "rigorous contact tracing".
"Of these, 13 are as a result of contact through routine operational duties and a further nine are through contact where some officers had come together during their break on Saturday, 18 July, to mark the retirement of a colleague," a police spokesperson said.
Officers had "come together" to mark the occasion but were not attending a party, according to the force.
Blackburn with Darwen, Lancs, currently has the highest infection rate in England, at 81.2 cases per 100,000.
A police spokesperson said: "We can confirm some police officers and staff based in Blackburn are self-isolating after a colleague tested positive for Covid-19.
"An officer developed symptoms and was tested on July 21.
"Rigorous contact tracing was put into place which has resulted in a total of 22 officers and staff self-isolating.
"Of these, 13 are as a result of contact through routine operational duties and a further nine are through contact where some officers had come together during their break on Saturday, 18 July, to mark the retirement of a colleague.
"All the affected staff have been working from home whilst self-isolating.
"These staff will progressively return to work depending on when the contact with the affected officer took place.
"At this time, no other officers or staff who are self-isolating are showing symptoms and no other positive test results have been received."
The force stated that the incident will have no impact on operational policing in Lancashire, and that it is meeting its minimum staffing levels.
ACC Peter Lawson told Lancashire Live : "We take the health of both our officers and the communities we serve extremely seriously.
"As soon as we were notified by an officer that they had tested positive for Covid-19 we immediately started tracing their contacts and requiring them to self-isolate.
"I can reassure people that we continue to meet all our minimum staffing levels and there will be no effect on operational policing in the county."
