Mumbai, April 18: The Indian Navy which has been at the frontline in containing the coronavirus pandemic in India have now faced a major jolt. It is reported that 21 Navy personnel have been confirmed in testing positive for the deadly virus at a major naval facility in Mumbai. Further tests are being carried out on the people who came in contact with them in the force.

 

 

The Navy shifted the infected personnel to their INS Ashwini Navy Hospital in Mumbai for further treatment. It also said the number of cases among the personnel may go up as the test results of many personnel are still awaited. 

 

"The COVID-19 positive patients include 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 April," Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said.

 

The sudden upsurge in virus cases in the Navy has come days after Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh Admiral Singh pointed out that caregivers cannot afford to become care-seekers while urging his citizens to remain safe. 

 

"They all reside in the same accommodation block at INS Angre. All primary contacts, though asymptomatic, were tested for COVID-19. The entire in the living block was immediately put under quarantine - containment zone and INS Angre too is under lockdown," he stated.

 

“A sailor, who was in touch with an ex-serviceman, had first tested positive for COVID-19 on April 7. On aggressively checking and testing all his primary contacts, there are other sailors that have now been found to be positive. Most of them are asymptomatic. More tests are in progress."

 

Further, there will be all actions being taken to establish COVID-19 protocols by the Navy. Though such a serious outbreak has occurred in the Navy, it will be continuing in combating the virus for the sake of the civilians.  "There are no cases of infection onboard ships and submarines and the Indian Navy continues to actively support the National effort in the fight against COVID-19," the Navy said.

 

This is the biggest coronavirus outbreak in the Indian Armed forces till now and the sudden upsurge occurred in the Maharashtra that has been the worst-hit state in the country.