Soldier contracted it from his father who returned from Iran recently
In the first positive case of coronavirus in the armed forces, a 34-year-old jawan of the Indian Army in Leh tested positive. The jawan contracted it from his father who returned from Iran recently. The soldier from Ladakh Scouts went on casual leave from February 25 to March 1 and rejoined on March 2.
As a precautionary step, the Army may quarantine all the other soldiers who came into contact with the affected jawan at the Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre, Leh.
Giving details of the case, sources said here on Wednesday the soldier’s father returned from Iran by Air India flight on February 27 after undertaking a pilgrimage and was quarantined from February 29 at Ladakh Heart Foundation. The soldier was helping his family even during quarantine period and was staying at Chuchot village for some time, they said.
The jawan’s father tested positive for COVID-19 on March 6 and was isolated at the hospital. The soldier was also quarantined on March 7 and tested positive on March 16 and was isolated at the hospital. His sister, wife and two children have also been quarantined at the hospital.
Meanwhile, as precautionary measures to curb spread of coronavirus in the rank and file, the Army has postponed all courses starting from March 23 and cancelled all non-essential training, conferences and movements. However, courses in progress will continue with precautions, sources said.
Some Army officers have expressed concern on training and exercises being carried out in Rajasthan despite COVID-19 being declared a global pandemic. “Soldiers belonging to different parts of the country are camping in open and carrying out training activities near Suratgarh which is a potential threat to the locals,” one officer there stated. A directive on exercises is also expected to be issued shortly.
The Army some days back had issued an advisory to all its personnel to refrain from visiting public places like malls and gatherings for festivals.
The commanders were also directed to regularly hold sessions on educating the troops at all the military stations about the pandemic and precautions to be exercised. The military hospitals also set up separate OPD for treating patients having flu and other such symptoms. The personnel were also directed to avoid non-essential foreign travel.
The Navy earlier postponed its Milan international multilateral naval exercise to be held off Visakhapatnam from March 18 to 28. More than 40 countries were scheduled to take part in the prestigious event held every two years.
Moreover, the Navy directed its personnel deployed on warships now operating in deep seas to avoid port calls and immediately lodge any suspected patient in the quarantine.
