As many as three branches of State Bank of India (SBI) in Dhanbad district have had to be closed after several staff tested positive of the coronavirus, forcing many others to go on forced quarantine.

The closed branches include SBI Chirkunda, SBI Maithon and SBI Dilbera.

Lead District Manager of Dhanbad Amit Kumar said, “We are taking all precautionary measures to avoid infection of the staff but despite everything some are contracting the disease. We have no other option but to close the branches.”

The country’s largest bank has stepped up testing for its staff.

Talking to The Telegraph Online today, another senior SBI official, requesting anonymity said, “The positive cases are coming to the fore because we have increased the testing and instructed all our employees spread over 41 branches to get themselves tested if they have any symptom of Covid-19. Testing of more than 60 per cent of our staff has already been done.”

The official said that until the staff gets cured and others, who were in contact with them, complete the mandatory quarantine of 14 days it’s difficult to open the branches.

The officer added that they have arranged for testing through private labs at their main branch situated in Bank More area of Dhanbad. He said that they are also ensuring that every staff wears a mask, and at the entrance all customers are provided with hand sanitisers. Seventeen fumigation machines have also been purchased for the branches in the entire district.

“We have also put barricades and have installed shades outside the branches of rural areas so that customers can wait outside. Only limited number of customers are being allowed inside so that proper social distancing is maintained,” he said.