Indian Army Chief Gen MM Naravane on Friday said that there are eight positive cases of coronavirus in the 13-lakh forces.
“So far, we have only eight positive cases in the entire Indian Army, of which two are doctors and one is a nursing assistant. Four are responding well to treatment. And we had one case in [the northern Indian region] Ladakh. Now he is fully cured and has joined duty,” Gen Naravane said.
The case in Ladakh was first reported in late March — a soldier got infected after contacted with his coronavirus-infected father, who returned from Iran in late February.
A Colonel rank officer who is posted at Eastern Command Hospital in Kolkata was also tested positive last month.
India has so far confirmed 13,495 COVID-19 cases and 448 coronavirus-related deaths.
Taking a dig at Pakistan, he said while India is helping the world fight coronavirus, Pakistan was busy exporting terrorism.
“While we are busy not only helping our own citizens but the rest of the world by sending medical teams and exporting medicines, on the other hand, Pakistan is only exporting terror. This doesn’t augur well,” the Army Chief said.
Gen Naravane is on a two-day visit to the region to review the security amid the nationwide lockdown and an unusual spike in ceasefire violations by Pakistan army.
This is the army chief’s first visit to a forward area after the lockdown was imposed to break the chain of coronavirus infections. He is scheduled to return to Delhi on Friday.
A total of 21 serving personnel have also been tested positive for COVID -19 within naval premises at Mumbai.
This number includes 20 sailors of INS Angre, a shore establishment at Mumbai.
Most of these are asymptomatic and have been traced to a single sailor who was tested positive on 07 Apr 20. They all reside in the same accommodation block at INS Angre. All primary contacts (though asymptomatic) were tested for Covid 19. Entire inliving block was immediately put under quarantine – containment zone and INS Angre too is under lockdown.
All actions as per established COVID-19 protocol are being taken. There are no cases of infection onboard ships and submarines.
Indian Navy continues to actively support the National effort in the fight against Covid -19.
