1st case in army as soldier tests positive in Leh
NEW DELHI: The Indian Army on Wednesday confirmed its first case of novel coronavirus (Covid-19) — a 34-year-old soldier who tested positive in Leh — and immediately banned entry and exit from the Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre to prevent the spread of the disease.
The soldier, a resident of Chuchot village in Leh, tested positive for the virus on Tuesday night at the Sonam Nurboo Memorial (SNM) Hospital, an army official said. The soldier was quarantined in the hospital on March 7, a day after his father tested positive for Covid-19. The father returned from a pilgrimage in Iran by an Air India flight on February 27.
The soldier was on casual leave from February 25 to March 1 and rejoined the centre on March 2, the official said.
“His father was quarantined on February 29. Even though the soldier had rejoined work, he was helping his family during the quarantine period and was
staying at Chuchot village for some time,” the official said, requesting anonymity. His sister, wife and two children have also been quarantined at SNM Hospital.
The army’s first Covid-19 case comes at a time when the armed forces are implementing a raft of measures to prevent the spread of the disease among its ranks.
These measures include cancelling all non-essential training, conferences and travel, avoiding any assembly of more than 50 personnel, regular screening of individuals with symptoms, postponing of all courses for officers, deferring welfare gatherings and postponing recruitment rallies.
“The army issued directives to curb the spread of Covid-19 prior to the first case being detected. Instructions are being issued to make sure the directives are implemented at all levels,” said another army officer. The army is promoting the use of video conferencing to reduce contact among personnel and has also allowed soldiers who are on leave to extend their absence from work till March 31.
The army has been at the forefront of the fight against Covid-19. It has so far set up quarantine facilities in Manesar, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur to accommodate 1,600 people. “Two battalions were moved out to create quarantine facilities for 1,300 people in Jaisalmer and Jodhpur. We are confident of taking care of both citizens and our own people in the current circumstances,” the officer said.
“The army has taken several pre-emptive measures to check the spread of coronavirus. In the existing environment, the army has to be doubly sure that corrective steps are also in place,” said former army vice chief Lieutenant General AS Lamba.
The navy and Indian Air Force have also taken several measures to control the transmission of Covid-19.
“The navy has scaled up its IPC [infection, prevention and control] activities to deal with novel coronavirus infection. Activities involving crowding of people, such as film shows and social gatherings, have been suspended,” a navy official said.
The navy has also issued instructions for the quarantine of Indian warships returning from countries with community transmission of Covid-19 or carrying any suspected patients. Also, health advisories have been issued to naval ships sailing in international waters. “Personnel on board warships have been equipped with essential supplies and advised to follow IPC measures strictly,” he said.
The IAF has issued guidelines to all headquarters on dealing with the spread of the disease. A recent circular said all social, official and welfare gatherings should be postponed or cancelled. Personnel have also been told to avoid non-essential travel within and outside the country. The circular says health education posters with dos and donts should be displayed at all public places in air force stations and headquarters.
SSB interviews deferred In the wake of rising cases of coronavirus infections, the Indian Army has deferred all Services Selection Board (SSB) interviews that aspirants are required to clear before joining the armed forces as officers. Military aspirants have to appear for SSB interviews that are spread over four days and held at different centres across the country such as Prayagraj, Bhopal and Bengaluru. The first such interviews were supposed to begin later this week.
The navy and the Indian Air Force are also deferring SSB interviews.
› Two battalions were moved out to create quarantine facilities for 1,300 people in Jaisalmer and Jodhpur. We are confident of taking care of both citizens and our own people in the current circumstances
AN ARMY OFFICER