New Delhi/Leh: The Indian Army reported its first case of coronavirus after a 34-year-old soldier of Ladakh Scout regiment tested positive for COVID-19, prompting the force to strengthen its check and prevention mechanism and suspend war games and training activities, as the total number of cases rose to 151 in the country Wednesday.
Army sources said, the soldier, a resident of Chuhot village in Leh, came in contact with his father, who had returned from a pilgrimage in Iran by an Air India flight February 20 and tested positive for COVID-19. The soldier was on leave from February 25 and rejoined duty March 2. He he was quarantined March 7 and tested positive March 16. Even the soldier’s brother has tested positive, sources said.
Among the 151 who have tested positive for COVID-19 are 25 foreign nationals – 17 from Italy, three from Philippines, one each belonging to Canada, United Kingdom, Indonesia and Singapore. The figure also includes three deaths reported from Delhi, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
“The total number of active COVID 2019 cases across India stands at 134 so far,” a health ministry official said Wednesday. He said that 14 others have been cured/discharged while three have died. Over 5,700 people, who had come in contact with these positive cases, are under rigorous surveillance.
Delhi has, so far, reported 10 positive cases which includes one foreigner, while Uttar Pradesh has recorded 16 cases, including one foreigner. Maharashtra has 42 cases, including three foreigners, while Kerala has recorded 27 cases which include two foreign nationals. Karnataka has 11 coronavirus patients and the number of cases in Ladakh rose to eight and Jammu and Kashmir three. Telangana has reported six cases which include two foreigners.
Rajasthan has also reported four cases including that of two foreigners. Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Punjab have reported one case each. In Haryana, there are 17 cases, which include 14 foreigners.
So far, 13,93,301 passengers have been screened at 30 designated airports, informed the health ministry. The government Tuesday banned the entry of passengers from Afghanistan, Philippines and Malaysia to India with immediate effect. This instruction is a temporary measure and shall be in force till March 31 and will be reviewed subsequently.
With schools across several states closed, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognizanse of the non-availability of mid-day meals and issued notices to the states and Union Territories asking them how children were being provided mid-day meals amid the shut down.
Agencies
