BEIJING, April 4 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Public Security said 60 police officers and 35 auxiliary police officers had died in the line of duty as of April 2 since the COVID-19 outbreak.

The fallen officers, eight from Hubei Province, had been working on the frontline of the COVID-19 fight, tracing infected patients or close contacts or diving into scams related to anti-virus supplies, the ministry said.

In Hubei Province, police officers and their supporting staff had screened 13 million people for COVID-19 infections, conducted epidemiological investigations on over 100,000 cases and assisted in transferring more than 80,000 confirmed or suspected cases, the ministry added.

Twenty of the fallen officers had been awarded medals of honor, the ministry added, pledging support to the bereaved families.  ■