Army Chief General MM Naravane on Friday reviewed preparations within the force to meet the coronavirus pandemic challenge and ordered that at least 35 per cent of officers and 50 per cent jawans working in offices will observe home quarantine and work from there for a week starting March 23. The second batch will observe these precautions from March 30 as per the new advisory'.
The advisory issue on Friday also said intermixing of groups to be avoided and it shall be ensured personnel are available on telephone and electronic means at all times for exigencies of work. These advisories were firmed up after discussions between Naravane and important functionaries at the Army Headquarters here, officials said.
These instructions come days after a Army jawan of Ladakh Scouts was tested positive in Leh and now undergoing quarantine in a hospital there. AS a precautions, the Army is now screening many other soldiers of the Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre in Leh as they had come into contact with the 34-year-old soldier.
*Meanwhile, the Army in its advisory has asked the commanders to regularly hold *Awareness Campaigns* on precautions to be taken within the Army and also for communities in near vicinity to Army establishments.
Among other measures, all conferences and seminars postponed have been postponed till 15 April and Temporary Duty of all ranks rescheduled/cancelled till 15 April. Leave of personnel already on leave was extended till 15 April 2020 at the discretion of Competent Authority.
All service personnel (less Army Medical Corps) attending courses terminating prior to 15 April 202were to be retained at respective training institution for which additional training programme to be issued. The annual Medical Examination(AME)/Periodic Medical Examination (PME)was postponed till 15 April.
Among other measures entry to the army canteens will be regulated and crowding and bunching has to be avoided. Moreover, posting of all personnel was deferred.
The Army also appealed to veterans and civilians living within and in the vicinity of army cantonments and stations to adhere to social distancing norms and to support additionalinstituted to prevent spread of COVID -19.
Moreover, those personnel working in army offices will report for duty in staggered timings to avoid crowding/bunching at entry/exit points.